Public health

• One in 10 deprived areas ‘food deserts’, think tank says

  Nearly one in 10 deprived areas in England and Wales do not have easy access to healthy, affordable food products, new study shows.

  

• Javid announces £200m to tackle youth violence

  Local government leaders have welcomed the announcement of a new fund to tackle violent crime — but renewed calls to reverse cuts in public health budgets.

  

• Council chiefs call for reversal of cuts to sexual health services

  Maintaining sexual health services at current levels will be difficult unless cuts in public health services are reversed, local government leaders warn.

  

• One person every 80 seconds stopped smoking last year

  More than a million people have stopped smoking in England since 2014, new figures have revealed.

  

• UK plagued by ‘stubborn’ health inequalities

  A report looking at the state of the nation’s health has revealed that the rich live nearly 20 more years than the poor on average.

  

• Council to review vaping scheme after exploitation accusation

  A deal between Birmingham City Council and a multi-national tobacco company to promote e-cigarettes has been branded 'a disgrace' by a government minister.

  

• Half of households unable to afford a healthy diet, finds study

  Around 3.7 million children are living in households unable to afford a healthy diet, according to a new study by a think tank.

  

• HIV diagnoses fall second year in a row

  HIV diagnoses in the UK have fallen for the second year in a row, public health body reveals.

  

• Greater Manchester unveils plan to fight HIV

  The mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, has unveiled a plan to end all new cases of HIV in the city region within 25 years.

  

• Council agrees to re-evaluate health service procurement process

  Lancashire County Council has agreed to re-evaluate its tendering process for public health services after a court ordered the council to set aside its agreement with Virgin Care.