Workforce Survey 2007

Download the Specialist public health workforce in the UK survey report 2007 [pdf]

SUMMARY

  1. Despite the government's commitment to public health and the ambitious agenda set out in Choosing Health , the cumulative and unintended impacts of repeated reorganisations in the NHS in England have led to a fall in the numbers of trained public health specialists working within the public health system in the UK and particularly in England 2003-2007. This fall is in stark contrast with the rapid rise in all the clinical professions and the average increase of 61% of consultant numbers in England between 1996 and 2006.
  2. Staffing levels of the consultant workforce in the UK remain well below the level required to deliver “the fully engaged scenario” envisaged by Wanless and below the 25 per million population recommended and endorsed by the Faculty of Public Health (FPH).
  3. There has been an improvement in the overall self-reported capacity of public health teams from 45% reporting the team is adequate or more than adequate in 2005 to 49% in 2007.
  4. The Healthcare Commission's Annual health check for England 2006/7 has shown that only 33% of Primary Care Trusts scored good or excellent in the public health domain.
  5. Findings from a qualitative study undertaken by the Faculty of Public Health indicate that the organisational changes in England following Shifting the Balance of Power and shortly thereafter Commissioning a Patient Led NHS were associated with an increase in workplace stress and demand and a loss of experienced staff across England.
  6. Two hundred (21%) consultants indicated that they may leave public health practice in the next five years, of whom 109 are aged 55 years and over.
  7. The new arrangements, with joint appointments between larger primary care trusts and local authorities in most regions in England , are already resulting in many new consultant appointments being advertised and appointed. There is now a window of opportunity to re-establish properly resourced and funded public health departments, and to re-energise public health training schemes. Consideration needs also to be given to the public health input into commissioning and acute hospitals and trusts. These larger departments can provide high quality working environments conducive to recruitment and retention of consultant staff. This is essential if primary care trusts are to deliver an effective public health function.

Download the Specialist public health workforce in the UK survey report 2007 [pdf]

 

Further workforce publications

Public Health Capacity, the Challenges for Public Health [PDF]:
A Report from three capacity workshops held jointly by the Faculty of Public Health, the Department of Health for England, the Health Protection Agency and the Health Development Agency (May 2004)

Raising Health: Organisational Options for Delivering Improved Public Health [PDF]
Report by OMP and the Faculty of Public Health (May 2004)

Public Health in NHS Trusts [PDF]
The Faculty of Public Health and BAMM (May 2004)

Public Health and Strategic Health Authorities: Implications of Regional Changes [PDF]
Faculty of Public Health [May 2003]

Public Health Sciences: Challenges and Opportunities [PDF]
An independent public health sciences working group, convened by the Wellcome Trust, has published a report which considers the current state of the public health sciences in the UK and recommends measures that it believes will enhance their impact upon the public's health. The working group is chaired by Faculty fellow, Professor Stephen Frankel

Enabling the Development of Public Health Networks [PDF]
National Public Health Network Learning Set Programme Summary Report by the Department of health and the Public Health Resource Unit (March 2004)

The specialist public health workforce in the UK
This key report describes the state of the current specialist public health workforce in the UK, using different models to recommend national targets for levels of consultants and specialists in public health to ensure delivery of a safe and effective public health system. A limited number of printed copies can be ordered through the Faculty. (March 2004)

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