NHS England: Operating Framework 2006/7
Monday 30 January 2006
NHS changes may damage public health warn experts
The restructuring of the NHS could have a drastic impact on public health capacity, warned the Faculty of Public Health in a letter to Patricia Hewitt, Secretary of State for Health today.
Whilst the Faculty of Public Health welcomes the newly published Operating Framework's emphasis on public health, it is concerned that reorganisation will affect public health posts, jeopardising the profession's ability to deliver the government's plans to improve the public's health.
The Faculty of Public Health's latest workforce survey reveals that over a hundred senior public health posts have already been lost over the last three years. A further restructuring of Primary Care Trusts and Strategic Health Authorities could result in over 120 more senior positions being lost. Steps must be taken to ensure that public health capacity is protected.
President of the Faculty of Public Health, Prof. Rod Griffiths, says: “With every NHS reorganisation, significant damage is done to the public health workforce. The Government has demonstrated its commitment to public health, seen particularly in Choosing Health. However, without an adequate, appropriately trained, public health workforce the public's health will be put at risk. We need assurances that public health posts will be protected.”
ends
Notes to editors
- For further information contact Chloe Parkin, Head of Policy and Communications, Faculty of Public Health T: 020 7935 3115
- The Faculty is an authoritative public health body which maintains and improves standards in the public health workforce to improve the health of the population.
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