The first UK-wide AHP public health strategic framework, jointly produced by AHP professional bodies, including the Society, and public health agencies of all four nations, has been launched.
The document sets out a vision for the role of allied health professionals (AHPs) in public health over the next five years. It is intended to support AHPs, as well professional bodies and partner organisations, to further develop their role in public health, share best practice with colleagues and partners, and ultimately embed preventative healthcare across all AHP practice.
“The Allied Health Professions have been identified as trailblazers within the wider public health workforce agenda, demonstrating our public health contribution and profile. We have identified some excellent examples of AHP-led public health initiatives across the life course, from helping children to have the best start in life to falls prevention for older adults," Linda Hindle, deputy chief AHP Officer for England, said.
"We now need to progress to support and enable AHPs to improve population health and reduce inequalities and ensure that public health becomes our core way of working over the next five year,” she continued.
“Each nation of the UK has similar public health priorities such as early year's health, supporting healthy lifestyles, self-management and parity of esteem between physical and mental health. It just makes sense for us to collaborate on our approach.”
Goals in the framework include developing the AHP workforce; demonstrating the impact of AHPs on the health of the four nations of the UK; increasing the profile of the AHP public health role; developing strategic connections and leadership at local and nation level; and making the best use of the expertise of AHPs to protect and improve the health and wellbeing of the health and care workforce.