Annex E
MEMORANDUM BY THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH PUBLIC
HEALTH (PH1) (contd.)
The National Electronic Library for Public
Health
Provisional aims of the initiative (which will
be subject to further discussion as part of the development process,
to ensure development is clearly driven by user needs) are:
"to link together and value different
contributions"
To provide a single "gateway" site to link
together the multiple range of related public health web-based
resources in a simple and easy to navigate format, that reinforces
and values the contributions of different agencies and organisations.
"to inform and provide direct access
to information and resources"
To provide direct access to a range of public health
related information, and particularly that arising from:
(a) Development of the Government's
health strategy, Our Healthier Nation;
(b) the work of the new Health Development
Agency (HDA) which has a dedicated role within England to support
the development of public health capacity.
"to engage people, capitalising on the
opportunities offered by new technologies"
To capitalise on the capabilities offered by new
web-based technologies enhancing two-way communication and dialogue
on key aspects of public health. In particular to stimulate and
encourage discussion and debate about public issues and ensure
developments in key areas are grounded by a clear understanding
of the needs of differing multi-sector practitioners.
The HDA currently have a range of web-based
resources that it has inherited from work done by the previous
HEA. These include maintenance and development of the Government's
Our Healthier Nation website [ www.ohn.gov.uk ].
The website contains the Our Healthier Nation—In Practice
database. This database has been established to help identify
and collate information and learning from practice that in different
ways contributes to the aims of the OHN strategy.
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