Dr Elvira Garcia, Public Health, MD, MPH, CPHM

"Everybody knows that prevention is better than cure." Lord Darzi 👀Read our response to Lord Darzi's investigation of the #NHS in full➡️bit.ly/3XoAZ4h

It is just plain old common sense (and fiscal sense) that investing in prevention is necessary to help reduce the long-term cost of treatment and to maintain a sustainable health and social care service. We will follow with interest. @GwynneMP @HSJnews @ADPHUK

In our #FPHVisionForHealth, we set out a series of recommendations for the UK Government to improve health and tackle inequalities in health outcomes. Read the Vision ➡️ fph.org.uk/vision

Poverty is a public health issue. Great to see the government lean into preventing poor health, but they need to make tackling poverty central to their plans if they are to succeed. Short 🧵 theguardian.com/politics/2024/…

I think Keir Starmer's public health drive is a step in right direction - but public health needs to address poverty, housing, employment & environment too! theguardian.com/politics/2024/…

As Lord Darzi rightly concludes in his report, staff are the beating heart of the NHS, with a shared passion and determination for making the NHS better for patients - but he is also clear they are facing unprecedented challenges.

🚨New Paper🚨 ~1 year after the UK sugar tax was enforced we show a daily reduction in sugar consumption from soft drinks of 3g in children and 5.5g in adults; across the whole diet reductions in sugar intake were 4.8g & 10.9g/day, respectively. Full read jech.bmj.com/content/early/…

"First, an update on #H5N1 avian influenza. Last week, the United States reported a fourth human case of H5N1 following exposure to infected dairy cows. Cambodia also reported two cases in children who had contact with sick or dead chickens. For the moment, no human-to-human transmission has been reported, which is why WHO continues to assess the risk to the general public as low. However, our ability to assess and manage that risk is compromised by limited surveillance for influenza viruses in animals globally. Understanding how these viruses are spreading and changing in animals is essential for identifying any changes that might increase the risk of outbreaks in humans, or the potential for a pandemic"-@DrTedros

Poverty is a key driver of ill health. Lifting the two-child cap would make an immediate and tangible impact on hundreds of thousands of children across the UK. It's crucial if we want to build a healthier future for the next generation. theguardian.com/society/articl…

We don't hear enough about public health successes. Here's one. Trachoma, a major bacterial cause of blindness, has declined massively across Africa over the past few decades, after directed efforts to provide antibiotics, clean water & improve hygiene.

There are so many alcohol myths! The truth is that for anyone who drinks, cutting down on alcohol reduces the risks to our health.  Find out more: alcoholchange.org.uk/alcohol-facts/… #AlcoholAwarenessWeek

Cases of measles are on the rise. It’s important to check you’ve had two doses of the MMR vaccine before travelling outside Scotland this summer. For more information on how to check you're fully protected, visit 👉nhsinform.scot/MMRagainstMeas… #DontLetMeasles

At Quit Your Way Orkney, we understand that stopping smoking is difficult, and it can take multiple attempts to become tobacco free. Orkney residents can access support from Quit Your Way Orkney as many times as needed. Follow thread below for more 👇

Whooping cough (pertussis) can be life-threatening for newborn babies. If you're pregnant, it's important to take up the #Pertussis vaccine when offered. It helps protect your baby in their first weeks of life ukhsa.blog.gov.uk/2024/04/12/wha…

🇺🇸 7632 people who received at least one dose of mRNA COVID vaccine in the first trimester of pregnancy, compared to 34,524 unvaccinated or vaccinated at other times.* 👉🏻 No increased risk of birth defects. jamanetwork.com/journals/jamap…

Farm visits are great fun for all the family - if you're planning a visit this Bank Holiday weekend, here are some simple things you can do to keep you safe during & after your visit.

The rows over 'anti-motorist' policies lose sight of the truth: they save lives. Amsterdam, Paris and Edinburgh are leading the charge to be healthier cities by prioritising walking🚶‍♀️and cycling🚴, by @DeviSridhar theguardian.com/commentisfree/… via @guardian

How prepared are you for summer? ☀️ Making sure you have some over-the-counter remedies and a well-stocked first aid kit can help with most summer related illnesses and ailments. Visit nhsinform.scot/campaigns/summ… for more hints and tips on summer health. #HelloSummer

When out and about, make sure to not touch any sick or dead wild birds you may find. If you do spot dead birds in the numbers shown below, call @DefraGovUK on 03459 335 577 or report online: gov.uk/guidance/repor… #BirdFlu