Public Health

The Public Health Department's role is to enable and support the PCT and its partners to improve the health of the population and reduce the health inequalities that exist between areas and groups in Bolton.

There are many different definitions of public health. We like the definition used by the UK Public Health Association. They believe public health:

is an approach that focuses on the health and well being of a society and the most effective means of protecting and improving it.
encompasses the science, art and politics of preventing illness and disease and promoting health and well being. It addresses the root causes of illness and disease, including the inter-acting social, environmental, biological and psychological dimensions, as well as the provision of effective health services.
addresses inequalities, injustices and denials of human rights, which frequently explain large variations in health locally, nationally and globally.
works effectively through partnerships that cut across professional and organisational boundaries and seeks to eliminate avoidable distinctions.
relies upon evidence, judgement and skills and promotes the participation of the populations who are themselves the subject of policy and action.

Our Director of Public Health is Jan Hutchinson who works jointly for the Primary Care Trust and Local Authority. Jan leads the Department, which is organised into three teams:

Health Protection is one of our core areas of work and this is led by Graham Munslow, who reports directly to the Director of Public Health.

Previously we organised our work areas into health topics, such as coronary heart disease, mental health, sexual health, etc. We have moved away from this approach in recognition of the fact that health is complex and inter-related. If we address the determinants of health for one health topic it will have an impact on another. Instead we organise our work around how we improve health. This can be through developing policy or strategy or it can be through implementing change within health services or in the settings where people live, learn, work and play. Our structure also recognises that there are some groups that need special attention because they are vulnerable or excluded. Our Social Inclusion team works to improve the health of these groups.

We have listed our main areas of work within each of the four teams. If you are still unclear about which of us can help you, please contact us and we will try and help.

You can email us at public.health@bolton.nhs.uk