Understanding the impact funding cuts on Environmental and regulatory services and gastrointestinal infections: a longitudinal ecological study

Murrell, Lauren, Clough, Helen, Gibb, Roger, Zhang, Xingna ORCID: 0000-0002-8849-2112, Green, Mark, Chattaway, Marie ORCID: 0000-0002-5288-9089, Buchan, Iain ORCID: 0000-0003-3392-1650, Barr, Benjamin ORCID: 0000-0002-4208-9475 and Hungerford, Daniel ORCID: 0000-0002-9770-0163 (2024) Understanding the impact funding cuts on Environmental and regulatory services and gastrointestinal infections: a longitudinal ecological study NIHR Open Res, 3. 41-. ISSN 2633-4402, 2633-4402

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Abstract

<h4>Background: </h4> Gastrointestinal (GI) infections result in 17 million cases annually, with foodborne illness costing the National Health Service (NHS) £60m per year. The burden of GI infection is unequally distributed, with greater impact in more socioeconomically disadvantaged groups and areas. Local authorities (LA) provide vital services that protect public health and wellbeing. The impact of funding cuts to local services and their effect on public health is an area of concern. Environmental and regulatory (ER) services are responsible for roles such as food safety and infectious disease control. This study aims to understand the impact of local funding cuts on ER and GI infection outcomes. Methods We will conduct an ecological longitudinal study in England from 2010-2019 at the LA level to examine how changes in ER expenditure overtime have impacted ER and GI infection outcomes. Data will be gathered on food hygiene enforcement, food hygiene compliance levels, GI infection hospitalisation, NHS 111 calls relating to GI infection symptoms, GI infection pathogen data, deprivation, and population density. Measures will be aggregated to LA level and statistical analysis will be carried out. Ethics and dissemination University of Liverpool Ethics committee have confirmed ethical approval will not be required. All data will be aggregated and anonymised, therefore only data sharing agreements will be required. Findings will be disseminated to the stakeholder group in addition to outputs through conferences and publications. These findings will help understand impact of key services on public health and should inform government and public health policy and strategy.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Food hygiene, Food safety, Gastrointestinal infection, environmental health and regulatory services, inequalities, local funding cuts
Divisions:	Faculty of Health & Life Sciences Faculty of Health & Life Sciences > Inst. Infection, Vet & Ecological Sciences Faculty of Health & Life Sciences > Inst. Population Health
Depositing User:	Symplectic Admin
Date Deposited:	03 Jun 2024 08:34
Last Modified:	06 Dec 2024 17:06
DOI:	10.3310/nihropenres.13426.2
Open Access URL:	https://openresearch.nihr.ac.uk/articles/3-41/v2
Related Websites:	Author Publisher
URI:	https://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/id/eprint/3181851
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