Public health - other support
Agencies
Here is a select listing of agencies that provide important resources relating to this clinical governance theme. We have focussed on agencies operating in the United Kingdom. The list is arranged by country with agencies listed in alphabetical order.
UK wide
Association of Public Health Observatories (APHO)
The APHO facilitates collaborative working of the ten Public Health Observatories (PHOs) in England and Wales and their equivalents in Scotland and Northern Ireland. The website site links to all of the PHO's which together form a national network of knowledge, information and surveillance in public health. The APHO has been formally dissolved but the website will be maintained until the new public health system in England is in place.
Faculty of Public Health (FPH)
The FPH is a Faculty of the Royal College of Physicians and sets, monitors and promotes standards in the education and training of specialists in public health in the UK. The site includes a policy and publications section which includes publications on public health themes.
Health-EU - Public Health Thematic Portal
This is the official public health portal of the European Union which has been developed to help meet EU objectives in the public health field. The portal provides access to comprehensive information on public health initiatives and programmes at EU level, and is aimed at professionals and policy makers and anyone who wishes to keep informed of policies and decisions taken at European, national and international level. Information is arranged thematically.
Nursing and Midwifery Council: Specialist Community Public Health Nursing
Specialist Community Public Health Nursing (SCPHN) was established as a separate part of the new Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) Register opened in August 2004 on the grounds that "this form of practice has distinct characteristics that require public protection". This section in the NMC website includes the Standards of proficiency for specialist community public health nurses and the NMC's position on health visiting.
UK Clinical Research Collaboration (UKCRC)) Public Health Research: Centres of Excellence Initiative
The initiative aims 'to produce excellent research that has a potential for impact on the health of the nation by building academic capacity, increasing infrastructure and promoting multi-disciplinary working in public health research'. There are five centres of excellence which bring together leading researchers with practitioners, policymakers and members of the public to tackle complex public health issues.
United Kingdom Public Health Association (UKPHA)
The UKPHA brings together individuals and organisations from all sectors who share a common commitment to promoting the public's health. It aims, as a multidisciplinary organisation, to promote the development of healthy public policy at all levels of government and across all sectors. The Association's three key priorities are combating health inequalities, promoting sustainable development, and promoting health-sustaining production, consumption and employment.
England
Department of Health: Public health
This section of the Department of Health website brings together information on a whole range of policy areas such as immunisation, nutrition, tobacco and alochol, drugs recovery, sexual health, pregnancy and children's health. A new public health system, Public Health England is under development. For details see Public Health England - a new service to get people healthy.
Health Protection Agency (HPA)
The Health Protection Agency has been established as a non-departmental public body since April 2005. Its role is to provide an integrated approach to protecting UK public health through the provision of support and advice to the NHS, local authorities, emergency services and the Department of Health. News items, current information and guidance are arranged on the website according to the HPA's areas of activity such as infectious disease, chemical and poisons, radiation and emergency response. There is also an A-Z index to topics.
National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE): public health guidance
The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) is an independent organisation which has a responsibility for providing national public health guidance that makes recommendations for populations and individuals on activities, policies and strategies that can help prevent disease or improve health. Guidance may focus on specific topics, particular populations or particular settings, and on interventions to promote a healthy lifestyle or reduce the risk of developing a disease or condition.
NHS Networks
NHS Networks aims to promote and connect the many networks which exist throughout the NHS and facilitates this through a register of networks. Networks are encouraged to use the website for communication including discussion forums and submission of news stories. Use the 'Network finder' to find the networks relevant to public health.
Northern Ireland
Community Development and Health Network (CDHN)
The Community Development and Health Network is an independent organisation with an inter-sectoral membership which is using a community development approach towards ending health inequalities. The organisation also aims to be a centre of expertise developing best practice and tools for action.
Institute of Public Health in Ireland
The Institute of Public Health promotes co-operative activity in public health across Ireland through policy and programme development, the provision of public health information and strengthening public health intelligence, and building public health capacity. The website is organised acccording to the different workstreams. It is one of a number of organisations contributing to the Health Well which has a series of thematic hubs such as the Health Inequalities Hub and the Obesity Hub - see the Health Well.
Investing for Health
This website provides information on progress in the implementation of the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety's Investing for Health strategy. The site includes information about the strategy and its objectives and targets.
Public Health Agency
The Public Health Agency for Northern Ireland came into operation in April 2009. It brings together a wide range of public health activities through four key functions: health and social wellbeing improvement; health protection; public health support to commissioning and policy development; HSC research and development. The Agency is structured into three directorates; public health, nursing and allied health professions and operations.
Scotland
Health Protection Scotland (HPS)
The role of HPS is to strengthen and co-ordinate health protection in Scotland by providing advice, support and information to health professionals, national and local government as well as the general public. It is organised into three specialist groups with expertise provided by a multi-disciplinary workforce.
NHS Health Scotland
NHS Health Scotland is a Special Health Board in NHS Scotland and acts as a national resource for improving Scotland's health by providing expertise to support health improvement practitioners and organisations and by disseminating evidence, learning and good practice in partnership with NHS Boards and other key bodies. The organisation of the website reflects these activities. Information about NHS Health Scotland's health improvement delivery programmes is arranged by topic, diferent health sectors and life stages.
Scottish Public Health Network ScotPHN
The Scottish Public Health Network is open to 'everyone in Scotland who has a professional interest and significant involvement in the wider health improvement agenda including staff from the NHS, local authorities, academia and others.' The network aims to undertake prioritised national pieces of work where there is a clearly identified need and the website provides information about current and previous projects and related resources. The network also aims to facilitate information exchange between public health practitioners, link with other networks and share learning, and create effective communication amongst professionals and the public.
Wales
Health Challenge Wales
Health Challenge Wales is structured around the idea of organisations and individuals sharing the responsibility for improving health through "small steps". It signposts members of the public to information or activity to help them improve their own health, and engages with organisations to look after the health of their staff and customers. Health Challenge Wales provides publications on a variety of topics.
National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE): public health guidance
The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) is an independent organisation which has a responsibility for providing national public health guidance that makes recommendations for populations and individuals on activities, policies and strategies that can help prevent disease or improve health. Guidance may focus on specific topics, particular populations or particular settings, and on interventions to promote a healthy lifestyle or reduce the risk of developing a disease or condition.
Public Health Wales
Public Health Wales is an NHS organisation providing professionally independent public health advice and services to protect and improve the health and wellbeing of the population of Wales. Established in October 2009 it brings together a number of services including the former National Public Health Service for Wales and Wales Centre for Health. Public Health Wales provides and manages a range of public health, health protection, healthcare improvement, health advisory, child protection and microbiological laboratory services and services relating to the surveillance, prevention and control of communicable diseases.