Public health must be taken more seriously

doi:10.1136/bmj.39205.549618.BE

BMJ 2007;334:967 (12 May), doi:10.1136/bmj.39205.549618.BE

Letters

Local councils and health

Public health must be taken more seriously

The first 150 words of the full text of this article appear below.

Blackman discusses the benefits of local councils taking responsibilityfor health.¹ I see the most effective way to reduce the increasein type 2 diabetes is by encouraging exercise, and there isno better way than to encourage walking and cycling. I thereforesit with the two public health physicians on our council's children'shealth and obesity task force, which has asked for slower speedsacross the city and cycling training.

But these and all other large scale, slow speed, or pro-cyclingmeasures have been rejected by other committees in the council.The transportation department sees its role as preventing trafficjams and accidents and helping industry (and accident rateshave dropped at the same time as cycling and walking rates havefallen). And government policies support this.

The planning department approves large hypermarkets with massesof car parking, and large entertainment complexes, which inpractice cannot be reached by . . . [Full text of this article]

David J Kinshuck, associate specialist, ophthalmology

Good Hope Hospital, Sutton Coldfield, Birmingham B75 7RR

davidkinshuck@blueyonder.co.uk