New national leadership role for Public Health in Scotland

The national programme to improve Scotland’s public health record and reduce inequalities has stepped up a gear. Less than a month after confirming the appointment of Professor Jim McGoldrick, as Shadow Chair for Public Health Scotland, plans have been unveiled to appoint a Chief Executive to lead the national agency.

Public health reform is a collaboration between the Scottish Government and the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA), which has the creation of a new national agency for public health at its heart.

Public Health Scotland will be established in April 2020 and will lead a renewed effort to improve the nation’s health. The new organisation will bring together public health expertise from across Scotland and work alongside national and local government, NHS bodies and communities to tackle Scotland’s significant public health challenges.  

Public Health Scotland Shadow Chair, Professor Jim McGoldrick said:

“The lives and potential of too many individuals, families and communities in Scotland are blighted by poor health. Public Health Scotland will lead a new and collaborative effort across Scotland to tackle the nation’s Public Health challenges. I’m encouraged that we have begun the process to appoint a Chief Executive for the new organisation. It is important that communities are at the heart of everything Public Health Scotland does. This exciting leadership opportunity will deliver on that ambition and drive the transformation in our communities to achieve real and sustainable change for the people of Scotland.”

Public Health Scotland

Public Health Scotland, Public Health priorities and support for local partnerships are the foundation of the Scottish Government and the COSLAs collaborative public health reform programme; a unique and forward thinking partnership between national and local government.

Public Health Scotland will be established by 1 April, 2020 and will be accountable to Scottish Government and the COSLA. The new body will:

• Provide strong public health leadership and be Scotland’s lead national agency for improving and protecting health and wellbeing.
• Support the wider public health system with high quality effective and supportive health improvement, health protection and health care public health functions with leadership roles in research, innovation and the public health workforce.
• Lead in a collaborative way and adopt a whole system approach which will support and enable others to take action together.
• Have a clear focus on supporting local partnerships and communities through the innovative use of intelligence, data and evidence.
• Provide independent advice and support to national and local government, local authorities the NHS and the wider public health system.

Public Health Scotland will be ideally placed to provide the essential leadership needed to support local and national bodies work together to improve health and wellbeing in communities.

Contact

For full details of the Chief Executive appointment visit apply.jobs.scot.nhs.uk and myjobscotland.gov.uk.