Our public health team play a key role in creating the conditions for people to live longer, healthier, and happier lives.
The work we do centres on improving health and wellbeing across whole populations, not just treating individual illnesses. We aim to reduce health inequalities by tackling the unfair and avoidable differences in health outcomes between different groups in society.
As part of our public health responsibility, we analyse data and produce reports, plans, strategies, evidence reviews and needs assessments to protect and improve the health and wellbeing of residents.
Our priorities
We have 4 main priorities.
Improve healthy lifestyles
We support people to change their behaviour to improve their physical and mental wellbeing through services that encourage healthier choices.
Protect against threats to health
We work to prevent the spread of infectious diseases and environmental risks and ensure effective responses to public health emergencies.
Support local healthcare services
We use our skills to shape and improve health and care services across the Integrated Care System (ICS), helping people access the care they need.
Create healthier places
Where we live, work and play affects our health. We influence policies on active travel, climate change and planning to make sure our environments support wellbeing and reduce health inequalities.
Statutory public health services
By law, we are responsible for providing and commissioning the following mandatory services:
- National Child Measurement Programme
- sexual health services
- NHS health checks
- children’s public health nursing
- providing public health advice to the NHS
We also commission services that help people make positive changes to their health and wellbeing, such as specialist drug and alcohol services and stop smoking support.
Working together to improve and protect health
We collaborate with teams across BCP Council, the NHS, and voluntary and community organisations to improve and protect health in our communities. As part of this, we support and contribute to the Dorset Health and Wellbeing Board and help develop the Health and Wellbeing Strategy, using shared priorities and evidence from the JSNA to shape and implement local action.
Some of the key public health services cover the county of Dorset and are jointly commissioned and managed by the Public Health and Communities Directorate at BCP Council and the Public Health and Prevention Directorate at Dorset Council.
Public health training
We’re also a recognised training location for the Public Health Specialty Training Programme, helping to develop the next generation of public health consultants. For more information, visit the Faculty of Public Health website.
Contact us
To contact the public health team, email publichealth-enquiries@bcpcouncil.gov.uk.