The book is an important addition to the history of public health in England. Starting in the 1970s, with a brief overview of earlier periods, it charts the events leading to the unique achievement from 2003 of specialist status, equivalent to public health medical consultants, for those from non-medical backgrounds. Setting these changes in context, it discusses later implications, changes and developments for practitioners and for the wider UK public health workforce. A lively and comprehensive review of policy change, the book concludes with a reflection on the new public health system in E ... More

The book is an important addition to the history of public health in England. Starting in the 1970s, with a brief overview of earlier periods, it charts the events leading to the unique achievement from 2003 of specialist status, equivalent to public health medical consultants, for those from non-medical backgrounds. Setting these changes in context, it discusses later implications, changes and developments for practitioners and for the wider UK public health workforce. A lively and comprehensive review of policy change, the book concludes with a reflection on the new public health system in England, making useful comparisons with the rest of the UK and internationally. In addition to factual and historical source material, the book makes extensive use of comments from individuals prominent in furthering the changes that took place from two Witness Seminars as well as a series of interviews specially conducted for this book. This is an invaluable resource for anyone with an interest in public health, the workforce and its current state of development. It will also be of interest to public health academics and relevant postgraduate students.