Bill Harvey: Zero the hero

Some weeks back, I wrote that, though the WHO had clearly made some mistakes during the early days of the coronavirus pandemic, it was neither the time for the finger-pointing of blame nor for an attack upon a body, run by health professionals, that focused on the response to the new disease. I repeat this here, but ask you to replace the letters WHO with PHE.

Among the many concerns raised by the announcement of the demise of Public Health England by Matt Hancock, a politician I suspect keen to identify any target upon which to deflect the blame likely to fly his way during future inquiries, is the likely adverse impact upon other recent health campaigns. The recent focus upon obesity is one such example, and one which eye care practitioners should keep a close check upon. When, last year, we asked for readers’ views about their involvement in delivering health messages, perhaps via ‘lifestyle prescriptions’, the response was overwhelmingly in favour. And prevention is always best.