National News

On 19^th January, Arts Council England (ACE) opened their consultation on future priorities for the arts. ACE identified areas for development in the arts over the next ten years and asked for views to inform its long term strategy and next set of investment decisions.

Just published is the Fair Society, Healthy Lives, Marmot Review, set up by Secretary of State for Health Alan Johnson in response to the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) Commission on Social Determinants of Health in 2008.

On 23^rd March the results of Design for Patient Dignity, a programme from the Department of Health and Design Council which brought together leading UK designers and manufacturers with frontline healthcare staff to help solve privacy and dignity issues for patients, were unveiled by Health Minister Ann Keen at the Design Council.

The Sustainable Development Commission is urging health professionals to rate the sustainability of their organisation by signing up to their online toolkit ‘Good Corporate Citizenship’.

On 19^th January Arts Council England (ACE) opened their consultation on future priorities for the arts. ACE has identified areas for development in the arts over the next ten years and is asking for your views to inform its long term strategic framework and next set of investment decisions.

A report entitled After the Downturn, by the Society of Local Authority Chief Executives and the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy, has announced that in the period 2011-2014 the arts may experience “cuts of 20% or more”.

Angie and Tony Russell of the charity Breakthrough have started an online petition to the Prime Minister to make greater resources available within the NHS and Local Authorities for the use of arts as an aid to recovery, wellbeing and social inclusion for people with mental health problems.

On 19^th January Arts Council England (ACE) opened their consultation on future priorities for the arts. ACE have identified areas for development in the arts over the next ten years and are asking for your views to inform their long term strategic framework and next set of investment decisions.

Prompted by a paper in the Journal of Applied Arts and Health, on 12^th January The Independent newspaper reported that choral singing immeasurably improves physical health. The article gives numerous examples of patients reaping the benefits of singing programmes, including “Singing for Breathing” at the Royal Brompton Hospital.

In December The Government issued a new policy document entitled New Horizons: A Shared Vision for Mental Health.