The quality of the healthcare sector is important, with health professionals and organisations urging government officials to help aid those in need. So, how does the government do its part?
The healthcare sector has faced its share of issues over the years, with the average spending cuts being moderate in 2012. They were highest in countries like Greece, Hungary, Portugal and Slovenia, and over 1% in other EU member states such as Cyprus, Spain and Ireland.
In the UK last year, it was revealed that public health spending budgets faced cuts of £85m (~€96m) in services including sexual health and help to stop smoking. Organisations and professionals within healthcare constantly challenge the government’s stance on various aspects of the sector.
Improving mental healthcare in the UK
Announced in October 2017, the Department of Health launched a £15m fund to help better support individuals at risk of experiencing a mental health crisis, known as Beyond Places of Safety.
This focused on preventing people from reaching a crisis point to begin with, as well as helping to develop new approaches to support people who experience a mental health crisis.
Secretary of State for Health Jeremy Hunt commented: “We want to make sure that therapeutic and empathetic support is in place to stop people falling ill, support them through crisis and help them recover.”
Jackie Doyle-Price, minister for mental health, added: “This additional funding will give local areas scope to do even more, and I look forward to seeing lots of innovative ideas for improving urgent and emergency mental healthcare across the country.”
Tackling the obesity crisis
Another ongoing problem is obesity, which officials are working hard to tackle. Diabetes UK has urged government officials to provide compulsory consistent food labelling on all packed foods and restaurants across the UK. In light of this, the government recently proposed measures to strengthen food labelling.
Also announced was the Future of Childhood Obesity Plan Chapter 2, which aims to halve the level of childhood obesity by 2030.
Chief executive of Diabetes UK Chris Askew commented: “These measures – if translated into legislation and action – have the potential to transform the health of our nation and begin turning the tables on the Type 2 diabetes time bomb we currently sit upon.”
