The Public Health Implications of Brexit in Wales: A Health Impact Assessment approach – A Rapid Review and Update

This is a short supplementary follow up report and builds on a detailed analysis of The Public Health Implications of Brexit in Wales: A Health Impact Assessment Approach, originally published in January 2019, which examines the potential effects of Brexit on the short, medium and long-term health and well-being of people living in Wales.

Authors: Louisa Petchey, Liz Green+ 5 more
, Nerys Edmonds, Mischa Van Eimeren, Laura Morgan, Sumina Azam, Mark Bellis

Understanding the association between self-reported poor oral health and exposure to adverse childhood experiences: a retrospective study

Adverse childhood experiences, including physical, sexual or emotional abuse, can have detrimental impacts on child and adult health. However, little research has explored the impact that such early life experiences have on oral health. This study examines whether experiencing adverse childhood experiences before the age of 18 years is associated with self-reported poor dental health in later life.

Authors: Kat Ford, Paul Brocklehurst+ 3 more
, Karen Hughes, Catherine Sharp, Mark Bellis

Implementing the Sustainable Development Principle: Lessons from a Literature Review on Implementing the Five Ways of Working

This resource provides key learning and actions that public bodies, policy makers and practitioners can take to implement the sustainable development principle, as set out in the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015.

Authors: Victoria Hands, Radu Cinpoes+ 8 more
, Fatima Annan-Diab, Annette Boaz, Carol Hayden, Richard Anderson, Alisha Davies, Sumina Azam, Cathy Weatherup, William King

Understanding the Landscape of Policing when Responding to Vulnerability: Interviews with frontline officers across Wales

This report is the first in a series of reports that has sought to understand the landscape in policing vulnerability across Wales, which in turn will support the E.A.T programme approach. It outlines the reality of responding to vulnerable individuals for frontline officers, the enablers and blockers in current service delivery and examines the introduction of the Adverse Childhood Experience Trauma-Informed Multi-agency Early Action Together training (ACE TIME training). This report provides the individual, situational and organisational context within which to view post-ACE TIME training findings and provide key recommendations when preparing to deliver a National transformational and cultural change programme within policing.

Authors: Emma Barton, Michelle McManus+ 7 more
, Georgia Johnson, Gabriela Ramos Rodriguez, Annemarie Newbury, Hayley Janssen, Felicity Morris, Bethan Morris, Jo Roberts

Transitioning from Police Innovation to a National Programme of Transformation

This report provides a high-level overview of the journey and transition from the localised South Wales Police PIF project to a National Programme of Transformational change. It details the key framework of the E.A.T programme, its aims and objectives, key roles, mechanisms of delivery in the ACE TIME training and evaluation measures used. The findings from a small pilot study are presented, which considers the fidelity of the training package and the evaluation tools developed to measure the impact of the training prior to national roll-out.

Authors: Annemarie Newbury, Emma Barton+ 5 more
, Michelle McManus, Gabriela Ramos Rodriguez, Georgia Johnson, Hayley Janssen, Freya Glendinning

Benefits of delivering Adverse Childhood Experience (ACE) training to police: An individual perspective

The article was published by Journal of COMMUNITY SAFETY & WELL-BEING, and provides a narrative of the delivery of the ACE TIME training to police officers and partners, as part of a Wales-wide police transformation. This highlights that following training, officers are identifying and applying root cause understanding of crime and harm and developing public understanding of existing early intervention assets and pathways of support in their local area. The article also provides considerations for future planning to ensure approaches continue to be embedded.

Authors: Jo Ramessur-Williams, Annemarie Newbury+ 2 more
, Michelle McManus, Sally Rivers

A Taxing Issue

The report focuses on contemporary population health concerns related to diets where taxation has been considered or implemented elsewhere, and/or is a viable innovation within the Welsh context. Excluded from the scope of this report are topic areas where taxation and other fiscal policy approaches are already in place by UK Government (for example, on alcohol and tobacco) and environmental-related taxation.

Authors: Adam Jones, Sumina Azam+ 1 more
, Mark Bellis

Resilience – Understanding the Interdependence Between Individuals and Communities

This report supports action by bringing together evidence and understanding of resilience at an individual and community level and the interdependence between them, how to measure change in resilience (Section 4), and provides an overview of programmes which seek to strengthen resilience at an individual and community level.

Authors: Alisha Davies, Charlotte Grey+ 2 more
, Lucia Homolova, Mark Bellis

How to Make the Case for Sustainable Investment in Well-being and Health Equity: A Practical Guide

Health inequities are not inevitable. Coordinated policy action on the determinants of health combined with well designed and implemented governance approaches have a dual effect on reducing the health gap and improving overall population health. This guide is the first product developed under Public Health Wales’ WHO Collaborating Centre (WHO CC) on Investment for Health and Well-being work programme and outlines four key phases on how to synthesize, translate and communicate public health economics evidence into policy and practice. The interrelated four phases guide the reader through the process of developing evidence-informed products, which are context and target audience specific. The guide aims to (i) prevent disinvestment in health; (ii) increase investment in prevention (public health); and (iii) and mainstream cross-sectoral investment to address the wider determinants of health and equity, driving sustainable development for  prosperity for all. It has been developed based on a mixed-method approach including an evidence review, interviews with national and international experts, and a multisectoral stakeholder consultation which ensured relevance and transferability across sectors, contexts, settings and countries.

Authors: Mariana Dyakova, Kathryn Ashton+ 2 more
, Anna Stielke, Mark Bellis

Making A Difference Housing and Health: A Case for Investment Main Report

This report is an extension of Public Health Wales’ Making a Difference publications and aims to inform, support and advocate for wider health policy and cross-sector approaches and interventions offering benefits to the public, health system, society and the economy. The report summarises the impact housing (across tenure) has on health and well-being across the life course; sets out the case for investing in housing as a determinant of health by identifying which interventions work and offer value for money; and identifies priority areas for preventative action within Wales.

Authors: Ian Watson, Fiona MacKenzie+ 2 more
, Louise Woodfine, Sumina Azam

Health Impact Assessment Training and Capacity Building Framework Technical Document

The Wales Health Impact Assessment Support Unit have published a framework for training and capacity building in HIA this week. The technical report sets out an underpinning framework for the WHIASU’s approach to the design, development, delivery and evaluation of training and capacity building for HIA over the next five years. The framework is the result of 18 months research, development and engagement. The technical document details a newly developed ‘Skills and Knowledge Framework for HIA’ and a ‘Development Pathway for HIA’ which can inform workforce development and capacity building. The framework has been developed with engagement and feedback from HIA practitioners from Wales and beyond. It has also been designed with the input of key stakeholders including Natural Resources Wales, Local Health Boards, planning officers, environmental health practitioners, and public health specialists.

Authors: Nerys Edmonds, Lee Parry-Williams+ 1 more
, Liz Green

Preventing violent extremism in the UK: Public health solutions

The findings of this report demonstrate the population wide negative consequences of violent extremism to the well-being and cohesion of our communities. They identify how poverty, inequalities, isolation, abusive childhoods, difficulties with identity and mental ill-health can contribute to risks of violent extremism. Critically, the report examines how a public health approach can offer solutions that target these risk factors whilst police activities continue to tackle those who are already actively planning terrorist atrocities.

Authors: Mark Bellis, Katie Hardcastle

HEAR Study

This study addresses the gaps in knowledge of health services experiences of adult asylum seekers and refugees in Wales, to inform policy and practice with the view to realising Wales’ ambition to become a Nation of Sanctuary, and supporting universal health coverage in line with the Well-being of Future Generations Act.

Authors: Ashrafunessa Khanom, Wdad Alanazy+ 20 more
, Lauren Couzens (née Ellis), Bridie Angela Evans, Lucy Fagan, Alex Glendenning, Matthew Jones, Ann John, Talha Khan, Mark Rhys Kingston, Catrin Manning, Sam Moyo, Alison Porter, Melody Rhydderch, Gill Richardson, Grace Rungua, Daphne Russell, Ian Russell, Rebecca Scott, Anna Stielke, Victoria Williams, Helen Snooks

Associations between childhood deaths and adverse childhood experiences: An audit of data from a child death overview panel.

A study to examine if data routinely collected by child death overview panels (CDOPs) could be used to measure ACE exposure and examine any associations between ACEs and child death categories. Data covering four years (2012-2016) of cases from a CDOP in North West England were studied.

Authors: Hannah Grey, Kat Ford+ 3 more
, Mark Bellis, Helen Lowey, Sara Wood

Biodiversity and Resilience of Ecosystem Duty Report 2019

Public Health Wales’ ‘Biodiversity Duty report’ has been produced in response to the enhanced biodiversity and resilience of ecosystems duty under Section 6 of the Environment (Wales) Act 2016 which requires that public authorities must seek to maintain and enhance biodiversity so far as is consistent with the proper exercise of their functions and in doing so promote the resilience of ecosystems.

The Biodiversity and Resilience of Ecosystems Duty Report 2019 outlines how Public Health Wales has addressed its biodiversity duty under the Environment (Wales) Act 2016 and achieved the actions identified in its Biodiversity Plan, Making Space for Nature.

Authors: Richard Lewis

Be the Change – A Healthy Heritage

‘A Healthy Heritage’ highlights some of the practical ways in which we can contribute to Wales’ Well-being Goals by supporting our culture and Welsh language in the workplace.

By preserving and learning from our history and culture we can re-energise, safeguard and share our heritage for future generations.

Our heritage is a key tool to support positive change, people who know more about each other and their local area tend to get more involved in their local communities, building a sustainable future where people feel they belong.

Authors: Richard Lewis, Tracy Evans

Adverse childhood experiences, childhood relationships and associated substance use and mental health in young Europeans

This study combines data from 10 European cross-sectional ACE studies among young adults in educational institutions, to explore ACE prevalence, supportive childhood relationships and health outcomes (early alcohol initiation, problem alcohol use, smoking, drug use, therapy, suicide attempt).

Authors: Karen Hughes, Mark Bellis+ 16 more
, Dinesh Sethi, Rachel Andrew, Yongjie Yon, Sara Wood, Kat Ford, Adriana Baban, Larisa Boderscova, Margarita Kachaeva, Katarzyna Makaruk, Marija Markovic, Robertas Povilaitis, Marija Raleva, Natasa Terzic, Milos Veleminsky, Joanna WÅ‚odarczyk, Victoria Zakhozha

Driving Prosperity for All through Investing for Health and Well-being – An Evidence Informed Guide for Cross-sector Investment

This guide identifies ten key evidence-informed policy opportunities for investment in Wales. Opportunities identified in the report address areas of high burden and cost in Wales, delivering economic as well as social and environmental returns, and supporting sustainable inclusive economic growth. The guide will help decision-makers to implement the Welsh Government’s Prosperity for All national strategy.

Authors: Mariana Dyakova, Mark Bellis+ 4 more
, Sumina Azam, Kathryn Ashton, Anna Stielke, Elodie Besnier

Gambling as a public health issue in Wales 

Gambling is increasingly being recognised as a public health priority. Recent years have seen a rapid growth in the availability and advertising of gambling, driven by factors including relaxed gambling regulations and technological development.

Authors: Robert D. Rogers, Heather Wardle+ 6 more
, Catherine Sharp, Sara Wood, Karen Hughes, Timothy J. Davies, Simon Dymond, Mark Bellis

The Public Health Implications of Brexit in Wales: A Health Impact Assessment Approach

The United Kingdom’s withdrawal from the European Union (EU) (informally referred to as “Brexit”) is an unprecedented event in UK history, and evidence of the impact of Brexit on a wide range of policy areas is either unknown or highly contested. The Wales Health Impact Assessment Support Unit, Public Health Wales, has carried out a Health Impact Assessment (HIA) to better understand the potential implications of Brexit for future health and well-being in Wales.

Authors: Liz Green, Nerys Edmonds+ 5 more
, Laura Morgan, Rachel Andrew, Malcolm Ward, Sumina Azam, Mark Bellis