Live discussion: where next for public health?
Author: Steven Howell, in the Guardian |
Localis’s Steven Howell took part in a Guardian Local Leaders live discussion on where next for public health?
Click here to read the whole discussion and the original article
The transfer of public health responsibility to local authorities this April marked a turning point in how local health issues are tackled. But, five months on, what has been learned, and where do we go from here? Some of the key questions considered included:
- What has been learned from experiences so far?
- What are the areas of highest priority?
- How can councils use the powers available to them to really make a difference?
- What approach should councils adopt?
- Do councils need more powers?
The Expert Panel included:
- Steven Howell is senior policy and communications officer at local government thinktank Localis
- Edward Davie is a Lambeth councillor and chair of Lambeth council’s health and adult social services scrutiny committee
- Jonathan McShane sits on the Local Government Association community wellbeing board
- Mary Black is a medical doctor and director of public health for the London borough of Havering
- Helen Walters leads the health team in the mayor of London’s office and works for Public Health England
- Liz Saunders is a medical doctor and consultant in public health at Surrey county council
- Oswin Baker founded Rockpool Research Associates
- Tom Scanlon has been director of public health in Brighton and Hove since 2002
- Janet Atherton is president at Association of Directors of Public Health
- Anne Bowers is an associate director at healthcare consultancy PPL
- Anna Quigley leads public sector health research at Ipsos Mori