Building a resilient Public Health workforce for the UK
Faced with rising health inequalities, the growing impact of climate on health, and the emergence of new infectious diseases, the need for a strong, skilled, and sustainable public health workforce has never been greater.
Current landscape and challenges
Despite its vital role in safeguarding population health, the public health workforce is under considerable strain. A significant proportion of the workforce is approaching retirement age, with high levels of consultant vacancies in some regions. Non-specialist roles can have unclear career pathways, while funding pressures and disparities in pay and conditions continue to undermine morale and retention.
Reductions in the public health grant have further eroded analytical capacity and weakened local authority teams, and stress-related leave and burnout are on the rise, with many professionals lacking adequate support.
Strategic vision: 2025 to 2030
To address these challenges, the Faculty of Public Health (FPH) and the Association of Directors of Public Health (ADPH) have outlined a bold and coordinated strategy for workforce reform. The vision is clear: to build a strong, diverse, and well-trained public health workforce ready and equipped to meet the demands of the future.
Key strategic priorities include:
- Expanding training capacity: Increasing specialist training places to meet future demand.
- Improving retention and wellbeing: Supporting flexible working, tackling burnout, and promoting morale.
- Advancing equity and inclusion: Addressing disparities in recruitment, pay, and career progression.
- Clarifying career pathways: Establishing coherent routes into and through both specialist and practitioner roles.
- Strengthening system leadership: Enhancing public health input across the NHS, local authorities, and Integrated Care Boards.
Immediate and Medium-Term Actions
In the short term, the strategy calls for the publication of a coherent UK-wide workforce plan, improvements in workforce data systems, and equitable pay for consultants across professional backgrounds. Support for portfolio registration routes and secondments is also prioritised to foster cross-sector collaboration.
Looking ahead to 2030, the strategy emphasises the need for sustained investment in training programmes, increased education on climate change and digital skills, and stronger global and academic partnerships. Governance structures for the wider public health workforce must also be clarified to ensure accountability and coherence.
The role of Directors of Public Health
Directors of Public Health (DsPH) are central to this transformation. As independent advocates and system leaders, DsPH bridge local authorities, the NHS, and other sectors, offering strategic oversight and a whole-population perspective. Their leadership is essential in shaping workforce development, coordinating training placements, and driving prevention efforts.
Considering a career in public health?
Starting a career in public health means joining a multidisciplinary field focused on improving population health and wellbeing, reducing inequalities, and shaping healthier environments. There are several pathways into a career in public health, depending on a person’s background, interests, and goals. Here are some of the most common routes:
- Academic qualifications. A number of universities offer undergraduate degrees specific to public health, in health and social sciences, or in related fields, for example, biology, psychology or sociology. Postgraduate studies leading to a Master of Public Health (MPH) or a similar qualification is a common entry point for more specialised or leadership roles.
- Apprenticeships and graduate schemes. Public health apprenticeships and structured graduate programmes such as those offered by the NHS or local authorities provide hands-on experience while gaining qualifications.
- Professional backgrounds. Many enter public health from other professions such as nursing, medicine, social work, environmental health, or education, bringing valuable transferable skills and knowledge.
- Volunteering and community work. Experience in community health projects, advocacy, or voluntary sector organisations can be a strong foundation and demonstrate commitment to public health values.
- Public Health training programmes. Programmes like the National UK Public Health Speciality Training Scheme (for registrars) offers structured routes into senior public health roles, including leadership and consultancy.
- On-the-job experience. Roles in local authorities, health improvement teams, or public health intelligence units can be entry points, especially for those with relevant experience or transferable skills.