Who Are The Public Health Workforce?

Apart from public health professionals,there are many people (including voluntary workers) who contribute to improving the public’s health through their job and therefore form part of the public health workforce.

The Report of the Chief Medical Officer’s Project to Strengthen the Public Health Function (2001) provided a framework for assessing the contribution of the broader public health workforce. The document referred to three categories of workers:

1. Wider (contributors)
2. Practitioners
3. Specialists

There are also many others such as researchers, academics, staff in government departments, regional and local authorities and members of the public who contribute to public health, but the bulk of the employed workforce are covered by these three categories.

1. Wider (contributors)

Contributors have an impact on public health as part of their work, but this may not be the main purpose of their job, for example, teachers and social services employees.  This part of the workforce is important because they can reach people who are not in direct contact with the health service and they can refer them on to sources of advice and support. 

This definition also applies to pharmacy support staff who advise the public on the safe use of medicines, minor ailments and healthy lifestyles.

Practitioners

Practitioners are a smaller number of professionals who "spend a major part, or all of their time, in public health practice.  These professionals have in-depth knowledge and skills in their specific areas and are a vital part of the workforce". 

Pharmacists are 'public health practitioners' when they advise the public on safe use of medicines, the treatment of minor ailments and on healthy lifestyle choices.  They may also provide specific public health interventions as part of a broader NHS service, for example, weight-loss clinics, specialist smoking cessation advice or drug misuse services.

Specialists

Specialist advisors in public health are usually "Public health consultants and specialists working at a strategic or senior management level."  They play a role in developing public health programmes and often have specific scientific expertise.

Pharmacists working in strategic advisory positions in health commissioning organisations may become 'specialists' in public health if they meet the requirements of the UK Voluntary Register for Public Health Specialists (www.publichealthregister.org.uk).

More information on the role of Practitioners and Specialists and examples of pharmacy practice are available here.