Review launched into public health workforce capacity

The Centre for Workforce Intelligence (CfWI) is conducting a review into the ‘capacity and capability’ of the public health workforce in England.

The review will look at two core aspects around changes needed to make public health services ‘ready for the future’.  Firstly, what capacity and capability is needed in the public health system to protect and improve the public’s health, and secondly, what needs to be put in place to start preparing for the future.

Professional bodies, local authorities and public health experts will be among the groups consulted for their views, and the ideas will inform the Department of Health’s planned revamp of its public health workforce strategy.

RCN public health forum chair Jason Warriner said: ‘Access to training should be looked at. Some training is very good but because of NHS cuts, nurses often don’t have access to it.  We need to embed in the nursing workforce that public health is all their responsibilities – which could cover anything from advice on stopping smoking to occupational health support for someone with mental health problems.’

Jane DeVille-Almond, an independent nurse consultant specialising in primary care, said: ‘It’s mad to me that you have individuals in public health who are supposed to be getting us all fit. Public health should be the responsibility of everyone – in business, the NHS and the independent sector. They should all be ensuring that employees have things like proper lunch breaks, access to water, and opportunities for physical exercise.’

A CfWI report summarising the review findings is expected to be published by March.