Public Health England

An overview of Public Health England, its functions, and its role in the UK healthcare system.

Logo of Public Health England

Public Health England (PHE) was an executive agency of the Department of Health and Social Care in the United Kingdom, established in 2013 to protect and improve the nation's health and wellbeing, and to reduce health inequalities. It was responsible for delivering public health services and supporting local authorities, the National Health Service (NHS), and other partners in their public health functions.

History

Public Health England was formed on 1 April 2013 as part of the government's health and social care reforms. It brought together public health specialists from more than 70 organizations into a single public health service. PHE was created to provide a more integrated approach to public health, combining expertise in health protection, health improvement, and healthcare public health.

Functions

PHE had several key functions, including:

• Health Protection: PHE was responsible for protecting the public from infectious diseases and other public health hazards. This included managing outbreaks, providing guidance on infection control, and supporting vaccination programs.

• Health Improvement: PHE worked to improve the health of the population by promoting healthy lifestyles, reducing health inequalities, and addressing the social determinants of health. This included initiatives on smoking cessation, obesity reduction, and mental health promotion.

• Healthcare Public Health: PHE supported the NHS and local authorities in delivering effective public health services. This included providing data and intelligence, supporting commissioning decisions, and evaluating public health interventions.

• Emergency Preparedness: PHE played a key role in preparing for and responding to public health emergencies, such as pandemics and natural disasters. It worked with partners to develop emergency plans and conduct exercises to test readiness.

Organizational Structure

PHE was led by a Chief Executive and had a national office in London, as well as regional centers across England. It employed a wide range of public health professionals, including epidemiologists, statisticians, health promotion specialists, and emergency planners.

Dissolution and Legacy

In 2021, Public Health England was dissolved and its functions were transferred to two new organizations: the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) and the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID). The UKHSA took over health protection and emergency preparedness functions, while OHID focused on health improvement and reducing health disparities.

Related pages

• Department of Health and Social Care
• National Health Service
• UK Health Security Agency
• Office for Health Improvement and Disparities