 | The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA |
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| The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA |
Laura Bowers, BSc, Anne Maree Wallace, Dr, and Peter Donnelly, MD MPH MBA FRCP. Public Health and Health Policy, Lothian NHS Board, Deaconess House, 148 Pleasance, Edinburgh, United Kingdom, 0131 536 9296, laura.bowers@lhb.scot.nhs.uk
The Nursing for Health (2001; 58) document encouraged the development of public health networks to bring together different professionals who have a public health element to their work.
Improvement in population health is the area of common interest for the Public Health Network, which by definition, can only be achieved by many people working together. Networks of individuals working within public health have existed for many years, but the recent introduction of Public Health Practitioners (PHPs) within each of the Local Health Care Co-operatives (LHCCs), Health Improvement Officers within local government and the reclassification of school nursing and health visiting to public health nursing has added new dimensions to this.
Through the introduction of a public health directory formulated from the ‘Public Health Matters’ conference held in December 2002 we have been able to link and develop partnership working across the wider public health workforce. To support partnership working in public health, training seminars and drop-in-clinics have been introduced which have addressed the learning needs of the workforce. These training sessions are now being rolled out to individuals working in primary care and local government. Mentoring and coaching schemes have been established and training contracts are offered trainee Public Health Specialists.
Through supporting the wider public health workforce we have been able to provide a broader approach to tackling inequalities and improving health services.
Learning Objectives:
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.