Public Health England

Public Health England
Formed	1 April 2013
Preceding1	Health Protection Agency
Preceding2	National Treatment Agency for Substance Misuse
Preceding3	Public health functions of the NHS
Dissolved	30 September 2021
Superseding1	UK Health Security Agency
Superseding2	Office for Health Improvement and Disparities
Jurisdiction	England
Headquarters	Wellington House, London
Chief1 name	Duncan Selbie
Chief1 position	Chief Executive
Parent department	Department of Health and Social Care

Public Health England. It was an executive agency of the Department of Health and Social Care in England, established in 2013 to bring together public health specialists from more than 70 organisations into a single, unified service. Its primary mission was to protect and improve the nation's health and wellbeing and to reduce health inequalities. The agency was dissolved in 2021, with its health protection functions transitioning to the UK Health Security Agency and its health improvement functions moving to the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities.

History

The creation of Public Health England was a central component of the health reforms introduced by the Health and Social Care Act 2012. It formally commenced operations on 1 April 2013, absorbing the functions of the Health Protection Agency, the National Treatment Agency for Substance Misse, and numerous public health teams previously embedded within the NHS. This consolidation, championed by then Secretary of State for Health Andrew Lansley, aimed to create a stronger, more coherent national voice for public health, separate from the National Health Service commissioning structures. Its establishment coincided with the transfer of public health responsibilities to local authorities, a move intended to place greater emphasis on prevention within communities.

Functions and responsibilities

The agency's remit was broad, encompassing health protection, health improvement, and reducing health inequalities. Its health protection duties included preparing for and responding to infectious disease outbreaks, such as influenza and Ebola, managing environmental hazards, and overseeing national immunisation programmes. In health improvement, it worked on tackling major risk factors like obesity, smoking, and alcohol misuse. It also had a statutory role to provide expert data, analysis, and evidence to local authorities, the NHS, and the government, supporting initiatives like the NHS Health Check programme. Furthermore, it operated several screening programmes and managed the National Poisons Information Service.

Structure and organisation

Public Health England was headquartered at Wellington House in London and was led by a Chief Executive, Duncan Selbie, who reported to the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care. Its operations were delivered through a network of centres and regional teams. Key operational units included the Centre for Infectious Disease Surveillance and Control, the Field Epidemiology Service, and the National Infection Service. It also maintained a significant presence in the regions, with teams working closely with local authorities, Clinical Commissioning Groups, and NHS England to support local public health systems and emergency preparedness.

Key publications and reports

The agency was a major publisher of public health data and guidance. Its flagship annual report was *The Health Profile for England*, which provided a comprehensive overview of the population's health. Other significant regular outputs included the *Fingertips* public health data tool, reports on *Health Matters* covering specific topics like childhood obesity, and surveillance data on notifiable diseases. It also produced technical guidance and evidence reviews that informed national policy, such as guidelines on physical activity and reports on health inequalities for the Marmot Review.

Criticism and controversies

Public Health England faced significant scrutiny, particularly regarding its preparedness and response during the COVID-19 pandemic. It was criticised for the initial scale and speed of its testing programme and for decisions around the procurement and distribution of personal protective equipment. Prior to the pandemic, its approach to tackling obesity was sometimes seen as insufficiently robust by health campaigners. A major controversy emerged in 2020 regarding its data handling systems, which impacted the ability of NHS Test and Trace to reach contacts of positive cases. These cumulative pressures contributed to the government's decision to reorganise the public health infrastructure.

Dissolution and legacy

In August 2020, the Government of the United Kingdom announced that Public Health England would be disbanded. This decision was framed as a necessary reform to strengthen the UK's health security architecture in light of the pandemic. It was formally dissolved on 30 September 2021. Its health protection functions, including pandemic response and biosecurity, were transferred to the newly established UK Health Security Agency, headed by Jenny Harries. Its health improvement functions, such as tackling obesity and health disparities, were moved into the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities within the Department of Health and Social Care. Its legacy includes a strengthened focus on health data and the institutional experience of managing a national public health emergency.

Category:Defunct agencies of the Department of Health and Social Care Category:Healthcare in England Category:Public health organisations in the United Kingdom