Public health practice in a new NHS landscape

Prediction in relation to professional practice is a risky business and not undertaken lightly. However, such is the change in the field of public health that some guidance on likely outcomes is worth making. This article has sought to identify a number of specific challenges to accepted professional public health practice. Public health professionals by their training and skill set are expensive when compared to others who could be deployed using a lower level skill set. It is suggested that professionals play to their strengths of having a greater utility and flexibility. Professionals can do more things to more people and to a higher standard. However, it would be advantageous if public health professionals did develop their community development skill set, especially if they work within deprived areas. This is suggested because of the research that is coming to the fore suggesting that the most deprived who have multiple risk factors are not benefiting from service provision based on individual need. What would reduce their overall risk would be more generic locality work improving their health rather than just treating an unhealthy behaviour.