Public Health Scotland planned as new strategic agency

Consultation has opened on the role of a planned new agency, Public Health Scotland, in coordinating resources in order to tackle Scotland's ongoing national public health problems.

The proposals follow a number of reviews that have highlighted the need for a clearer focus on the public’s health in Scotland, and for partnership-based action informed by public health intelligence and evidence. These include reports by NHS Scotland and Audit Scotland, the Christie Commission and the Public Health Review under Dr Hamish Wilson.

Public Health Scotland would have a role to achieve the most effective use of limited resources, with a national data and intelligence function enabling it to monitor all public health activity and performance measurement while supporting organisations, communities and partnerships in building local capacity and capability. It will address the challenges of Scotland's poor relative overall health status compared with other countries, and the significant and persistent health inequalities that exist across Scotland, supporting the Government's public health priorities that include healthy lifestyle and diet, reduced harm from alcohol, tobacco and drugs, and good mental wellbeing.

The consultation focuses mainly on the functions and role of the new body and the public health reform aspirations.

Click here to view the consultation. The deadline for responses is 8 July 2019.