PUBLIC health plans for England, set to come into effect from next year, are currently open to consultation with people in Tower Hamlets able to respond by March 31.

The deadline for responses to the government’s white paper “Healthy Lives, Healthy People” has been extended and opinions are sought on proposals focussing on “protecting the population from serious health threats” and “helping people live longer, healthier and more fulfilling lives.”

The government plans to bring in a new public health service – Public Health England – and is seeking feedback on their overall changes to the public health system.

The paper outlines particular challenges including tackling obesity, the rate of sexually transmitted diseases, and “rising levels of harm from alcohol”.

It also says that people living in the poorest areas will, on average, die seven years earlier than people living in richer areas and spend up to 17 more years living with poor health

The paper and consultation questions can be found here: http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Publications/PublicationsPolicyAndGuidance/DH_121941.