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The government unit will sit within the Department of Health and Social Care and report to both the Health Secretary and Chief Medical Officer.

Our chief executive Tim Hollingsworth has welcomed the government’s plan to create a new Office for Health Promotion that’ll lead work to improve physical and mental health across England, including through getting people physically active.

Announced recently, the new unit will have a remit to systematically tackle the top preventable risk factors causing death and ill health in the UK by designing, implementing and tracking delivery policy across government.

It’ll be located within the Department of Health and Social Care, report jointly into the Health Secretary and the Chief Medical Officer, and promote good health and prevent illness which shortens lives and costs the NHS billions every year, building on the work of Public Health England. 

“We welcome the creation of the Office for Health Promotion and look forward to working with it on the shared ambition to improve people’s physical and mental health through supporting them to live active lives,” said Tim.

“This has never been more important given the impact the pandemic has had on so many people and more timely, given how restrictions are now easing so people can soon return to the sports and activities they love.

“We’ll build on our existing successful partnership with Public Health England and are pleased that the diet, obesity and physical activity functions will transfer together into the new unit, ensuring a rounded approach to improving health.

“The plans to strengthen the national focus and capacity of NHS England and the focus of local health partners on supporting better health are also most welcome.”

We work in partnership with Public Health England to tackle inactivity through enabling people, particularly people living in under-serviced communities, to move, play sport and be physically active.

We jointly deliver the Moving Healthcare Professionals programme, which is recognised by the World Health Organisation as good practice. This includes peer-led training by clinical champions, e-learning and resources to use during consultations such as the award-winning Moving Medicine platform.

To date, more than 28,000 healthcare professionals have been trained, over 180,000 e-learning modules have been completed and more than 53,000 people have used the Moving Medicine resource.

We also support, promote and activate each other’s campaigns including We Are Undefeatable, which is delivered by 15 health and social care charities with support from us, and Public Health England’s Better Health campaign and Summer Shake Up campaigns.