A week of beginnings

This is a week of beginnings, all of them welcome. Noel Olsen applauds the appointment of Tessa Jowell, Britain's first minister of public health, and asks her to “generate a culture of concern for human health throughout government policy” (p 1498). Dr Olsen thinks that Ms Jowell needs to be supported by a public health act and a permanent royal commission on public health. The government's commitment to public health has begun promisingly with a ban not only on tobacco advertising but also–announced on Monday (p 1502)–on tobacco sponsorship of sport.

A new ABC–of mental health–begins …