Better Health For All

Claire Beynon, Specialty Registrar, has co-authored a chapter of the Chief Medical Officer’s annual report 2016/17 on gambling.

Gambling is an emerging public health issue. It has the potential to cause harm to both individuals and to wider society.

Claire developed the chapter during her nine month placement at the Welsh Government. She worked under the supervision of Dr Frank Atherton, Chief Medical Officer.

Support from a wide range of academics working on gambling from across the UK and Canada was provided, and Claire spent much time talking to the relevant partner organisations including the Gambling Commission, GambleAware, the Responsible Gambling Strategy Board, local Assembly Members, Ministers as well as local charities and third sector organisations that provide services for people with a gambling addiction.

The work is now moving forward. She has drafted a position statement on gambling for the Faculty of Public Health, which will be considered later this year. Claire said:

“It was a great opportunity to see how Welsh Government works, and how policies can have an impact on Public Health issues. I would highly recommend this placement to other registrars on the training scheme in Wales.”

Claire also worked on several other high profile projects. This included working with Dr Ruth Hussey, former Chief Medical Officer, on the Parliamentary Review of Health and Social Care. 

The Parliamentary Review of Health and Social Care in Wales is the first ever cross party independent review undertaken in Wales.  It had a wide ranging remit including:

• Define the issues facing health and social care
• Identify where change is needed and the case for change
• Set out a vision for the future, to include health and social care moving forward together
• Look at developing primary care services out of hospitals
• Give advice on how to deliver change, building on the positive aspects of the current system

The review covered six main areas including:

1. An analysis of the way things are now, including learning from previous studies
2. Define what the future of health and social care could look like. Different delivery models, organisational issues and the citizen’s perspective
3. Metrics, systems, governance and pace of change
4. Workforce including culture, morale, education & training, rurality and Welsh language
5. Quality and safety including research & development, and innovation
6. Productivity including data and insight, digital, & finance

Claire supported Professor Dame Carol Black and Professor Anne Marie Rafferty on the workforce element of the report, assessing current status of morale, culture, training and specifically looking at rurality issues and the Welsh language.