This week, we have a blog post/article from UK student Dietitian : Luise Russell.
So glad to have the Brits on board with L-Plate!

Lúise Russell (@Grittykit) is a final year Nutrition & Dietetic student from the University of Chester, UK. She has an interest in public health and how health inequalities are linked to socio-economic factors – conducting her dissertation around improving health knowledge to improve health in deprived communities.

Here is Luise's blog on the sobering health statistics just relased by the UK Government:

Latest health statistics for the UK

Last week the UK Government, via Public Health England (PHE) revealed up to date health statistics through a new website – “Longer Lives” for use by local authorities and the public. Depending on where in the country you live it can make for sobering reading. Find your local authority to reveal the top causes of avoidable early death ranked against other local authorities.

With public health issues now under local government jurisdiction these health statistics aim to support that role and inform the best decisions for reducing premature death for their local population.

How is this useful to health professionals? It is important to know your local area and what the major health risks are. Perhaps you are seeing these statistics reflected in your patient types and the projects you are involved with already. As health professionals there is a duty of care to keep knowledge up to date. Whilst these high level statistics may not form the basis for evidence-based practice within a workplace, they are the basis on which local government policy is formed which can affect the services we provide.

These figures are also readily available for public consumption which can then generate questions from service users – be prepared!