Thread by @jillongovt

So what exactly is the Office for Health Promotion? it clearly is part 2 of the plan to reform @PHE_UK (@instituteforgov explainer here) - the creation of Andrew Lansley as part of his reforms

PHE's infection control and preparedness functions are already going to the National Institute for Health Protection under Dido Harding. That was part one of its dismemberment gov.uk/government/pub…

Govt said back then it would think about what to do about PHE's wider health promotion activities. Those campaigns on obesity, tobacco, alcohol etc that PHE did will now be undertaken by the Office of Health Promotion gov.uk/government/new…

But it is just part of @DHSCgovuk - reporting into the SoS and Chief Medical Officer.. That makes it - even - less independent than @PHE_UK which had (some) protections on its ability to advise ministers even though it was an executive agency

and one reason why the creation of @PHE_UK was controversial was because it was less independent than its public health campaign predecessor the Health Protection Agency

but even that was MORE independent of government than Lansley's original proposal - to absorb it into the Dept of Health - which - with a more arm's length @NHSEngland would become a dept for public health

Now @MattHancock seems both to be taking more control of the NHS @NicholasTimmins on that instituteforgovernment.org.uk/blog/leaked-nh…

and taking full control of health promotion which potentially stops that body having any independent voice (apart from the CMO) #takingbackcontrol ENDS

oops - forgot to post explainer instituteforgovernment.org.uk/explainers/pub…