§ Mr. Jim CunninghamTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what measures she is taking to encourage the national health service trusts to collaborate with environmental health and education services and other public services within local authorities in the prevention of illness and disease.
§ Mr. SackvilleJoint interim guidance from the Departments of Health and the Environment, HSG(93)56, "Public Health Responsibilities of the NHS and Roles of Others", was issued on 24 November 1993 and copies are available in the Library. The guidance emphasises the need for all authorities and agencies to work within a co-ordinated and comprehensive public health strategy and share information to achieve the best possible health for their population including arrangements for the control of communicable disease and infection and for dealing with the health aspects of non-communicable environmental hazards.
The handbook "Working Together for Better Health", published in July last year in the context of the "Health of the Nation" strategy, set out the importance of collaboration between the national health service, local authorities and other local groups in the prevention of illness; gave guidance on the setting up and maintenance of healthy alliances; and gave examples of alliances in which both NHS trusts and local authorities are involved. Copies of the handbook will be placed in the Library.