Scottish public health experts on alcohol and obesity face 'Dragons' Den' at national conference
(Wednesday 9 November)
Leading public health experts will be exploring the future for health improvement with former BBC Scotland presenter Pennie Taylor during a Dragons' Den-style debate at a conference in Aviemore this Friday.
The conference, organised by the Faculty of Public Health (FPH) in Scotland and the North of Scotland NHS Boards, runs from Thursday 10 to Friday 11 November. It will bring together 250 public health professionals to debate improving Scotland’s health in an increasingly challenging climate. Leading public health experts Professor Anne Ludbrook and Professor Mike Lean will discuss their work on minimum pricing for alcohol and obesity in a session chaired by Pennie Taylor this Friday.
Dr Emilia Crighton, convenor of FPH in Scotland, said: “We are delighted that Pennie Taylor will be joining the debate at the FPH Scotland conference, when we will be working to find solutions to the public health challenges we face. Public health is not widely understood, yet the work that public health professionals do, on issues like alcohol pricing and the smoking ban, can save lives.
“With the public health workforce undergoing huge change, this conference is perfectly timed to give people the opportunity to come together for informed discussion and to leave with inspiration for their work.
“While there is still much to be done to improve Scotland’s health, the smoking ban shows how taking bold steps saves lives. In such uncertain times, we public health professionals need to show leadership and focus our efforts to have the most benefit. Our next priority is setting the minimum price per unit of alcohol sold in Scotland at a level that has an impact on the lives and health of Scots.”
Notes to Editors
For further comment, interviews and briefings on obesity, alcohol minimum pricing and the smoking ban, please contact Liz Nightingale, Media and PR Officer, on 020 7935 3115, email
FPH’s Scotland conference, Quality, Public Health and Scotland: Improving Standards in a Changing Climate, is at the Macdonald Aviemore Resort from 10-11 November 2011. More details on the conference programme are available on the FPH Scottish conference web page.
The Faculty of Public Health (FPH) is the standard-setting body for public health in the UK with more than 3,000 specialist public health members. FPH is a registered charity and advocates for better public health in the UK and around the world, by stimulating debate on promoting, protecting and improving the public’s health.
