Severe cuts to public health budgets, an understaffed public health workforce, and a series of disruptive structural reorganisations in England have undermined the capacity of public health to effectively protect and promote health.

We surveyed public health professionals from across the UK to understand their perspectives on the challenges faced in public health services, and to better understand what actions UK governments need to take to build back this vital function.

What you will get from this report

• An understanding of why we need public health.
• A recognition of the significant challenges faced by the public health system in three key areas – funding, workforce, and independence.
• Our recommendations for how UK governments can rebuild public health.

Summary of recommendations

We're calling for funding that:

• meets the growing needs of the population, with the Public Health Grant restored to at least 2015/16 levels
• is transparent, with clear reporting on preventive spending
• is long-term, so public health teams can effectively plan and deliver.

We're calling for action to support the workforce, including:

• better pay and conditions, with parity between all public health professionals
• a guarantee of public health involvement in local commissioning and ICB leadership
• action to grow the workforce, by including public health in workforce planning and recognising the importance of clear training and career pathways.

We're calling for the independent voice of public health to be protected:

• UK Governments must recognise that an independent, specialised public health system is crucial at all levels of government
• public health professionals must be free to speak out, advise, and publish freely in the interests of the population’s health.