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Welsh Committee for Public Health Medicine and Community Health

Public health medicine and community health doctors are involved in improving the health of their communities in Wales. Public health doctors work in Health Authorities, with the Public Health Laboratory Service and many have posts in the academic sector where they undertake research and training of tomorrow's doctors and public health professionals.

The Committee brings the public health perspective to the views of doctors in Wales.

Community health doctors work in a variety of roles, providing services to children in the community, offering choice and specialist services for women and men in sexual health and offering services to vulnerable groups in society. They work at the interface between service provided by consultants and GPs in primary care.

It is an exciting time for public and community health in Wales. The National Assembly for Wales wishes to make a "Better Wales" by improving the economic well being of the population. It's health policy is set out in "Better Health - Better Wales" where there is a commitment to new programmes that will improve the health of the whole population, but focus on closing the gap between those who experience the worst health to achieve the level of the best.

Terms of reference
To consider and report to the Committee for Public Health Medicine and Community Health on those matters which are peculiar to the Principality, respecting the relation of the medical profession in Wales to the National Assembly for Wales as representing the views of practitioners in public health medicine and community health on any subject specially relating to the working of the National Health Service under any National Health Service Acts; and generally to keep the central Committee informed of the circumstances related to practice in Wales.

Membership
Voting
One representative of the Directors if Public Health Medicine in Wales, ten members representing the practitioners working in each of the five Health Authorities in Wales and elected by them. In each Authority, one elected to represent consultants in Public Health Medicine, and one to represent Community Health Doctors.

Members of the Committee for Public Health Medicine and Community Health working in Wales.

One Representative from the Welsh Affairs Committee of the Faculty of Public Health Medicine.

One Representative from the Faculty of Community Health Doctors.

One Representaitve of Academic Public Health Medicine.

One Representative from other organisations employing Public Health Medicine personnel:

• Centre for Communicable Disease Control
• Breast Test Wales
• Health Solutions
• National Assembly for Wales

One Representative of Trainees in Public Health Medicine.

Non Voting
Chairman or Vice-Chairman Welsh Council.

Public Health and Community Health members of the BMA Welsh Council not otherwise elected.

One Representative form GPC (Wales).

One Representative from the Welsh Consultants and Specialists Committee.

One Representative from the Forum of Welsh Local Negotiating Committee.

Co-opted Members
Not more than three members can be co-opted to Welsh Committee for Public Health Medicine and Community Health in a manner decided by the Committee. The Committee also decides whether co-opted members are permitted to vote.

Method of Election
Election of Chairman
The appointment of the Chairman is carried out as the first business at the first meeting of Welsh Committee for Public Health Medicine and Community Health in each session, and term of office is for three years.

Vice-Chairman
The Vice-Chairman of the Committee is appointed annually by the Committee.

Meetings
Welsh Committee for Public Health Medicine and Community Health normally meets three times a year.