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School of Medicine, Pharmacy & Health

School of Medicine, Pharmacy & Health

Coming Out of Transition

Presented by David HunterProfessor of Health Policy and Management15th October 2013

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School of Medicine, Pharmacy & Health

Emerging Issues Progress in embedding public health in local

government Organisation of public health function: centralised

versus distributed model How is Public Health England being viewed? Health and Wellbeing Boards: are expectations

too high? Where is public health on the national agenda?

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School of Medicine, Pharmacy & Health

Is the Glass Half-Empty? Demise of the public health profession as we

know it: future of specialist-practitioner-wider workforce paradigm at risk

End of DsPH as we know them (eg Lancashire) Emergence of a divided and fragmented

workforce split between different cultures Failure to recognise and invest in public health

skills training Devaluing the evidence base in political world of

local government

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School of Medicine, Pharmacy & Health

Or is the Glass Half-Full?Welcome opportunity To transform the way public health is conceived and

delivered To break away from the shackles of a biomedical

model and embrace a social model: from a deficit to an assets-based approach

To develop new skills and competencies – not a case of preserving the old and familiar

To embed new leadership style focused on influencing others engaged in health improvement and wellbeing

To strengthen the evidence base and make it more relevant, eg NICE’s work on the cost-effectiveness of public health activities

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School of Medicine, Pharmacy & Health

Looking Ahead

Election in May 2015 – more change in prospect?