Public health

Introduction

The transfer of responsibility for local health improvement to local authorities is the biggest shift in public health policy in decades. Government’s approach to improving public health is centred on empowering individuals to make healthy choices, and giving communities the tools and resources to address their own health needs.

Government’s proposals have the potential to grant local authorities significant new powers and opportunities to develop effective local solutions to manage public health and improve the lives of their residents. Within a London context, the proposed public health responsibilities will give local authorities new opportunities to develop innovative ways of improving the health of their population. London’s boroughs are uniquely positioned to understand the specific needs of their communities and to draw on a range of existing knowledge, expertise and resources from within their organisations, and from partners, to improve health outcomes for their residents.

Within London, local authorities are developing plans for the transition of public health responsibilities to them, working together with public health professionals on a London wide and a local basis.

London Councils’ policy work in this area

Public Health Transitions Advisory Group Programme Board

In summer 2010, Dr Simon Tanner established a group to oversee and support public health transition arrangements in London.  London local authorities are represented on this board by:

Doug Patterson – Chief Executive, London Borough of Bromley

Terry Rich – Director of Adult and Community Services, London Borough of Bromley and Chair, London Association of Directors of Adult Social Services

Dick Sorabji, Corporate Director of Policy and Public Affairs, London Councils

Judith Hendley, Head of Health and Adult Services, London Councils

London Health Improvement Board

London boroughs and the Mayor of London have worked together to set up the London Health Improvement Board, which is currently in shadow form.  For further details please click here.

Health and Wellbeing Boards

Local Health and Wellbeing Boards will have responsibility for overseeing public health arrangements and for improving the health of their populations.  London Councils is working with NHS London and the Joint Improvement Partnership for adult social care to support the development of Health and Wellbeing Boards in London.