Public health - leading the future?

摘要

In the time since the transfer from the NHS in England to local authorities we have seen a definite shift in the remit, positioning and influence of public health.With varying health and local authority system designs across the four UK countries England, on the face of it, appears more fragmented than its peers but perhaps this presents as an opportunity for the profession of public health to take hold of, and push forward with, the evolving nature of sustainability and transformation partnerships (STPs), integrated care systems (ICS) and other integration agendas. Public Health England, in its 2018/19 operational plan, says it plans to reset the covenant with local authorities after five great, but tough and transitional years to provide further focus on children, employment, technology and the benefits of behavioural science and big data. There will also be more emphasis on choice and personalisation.There are many factors local authorities, healthcare focused partners, not-for-profit service providers and other organisations are havingtogettogripswith.such as the prevalence of non-communicable diseases; mental health (with its undeniable link to physical health); how we utilise the environment we live in and address inequalities; greater awareness ofglobal threats from 'new' or 'exotic' infectious diseases and the re-emergence of older, but still dangerous, conditions such as measles and TB.