We refer to people who contribute to public health in some way through their actions (even if they do not realise it) as the ‘wider public health workforce‘. In 2015, the Department of Health, NHSE and PHE (now the Office for Health Improvement & Disparities) completed a review ‘Understanding the wider public health workforce in England‘.
This review provides examples of the work of the public health workforce and considers possible professional development needs for strengthening it. It is estimated that 15 million people in over 170 occupations work in the wider public health workforce. Many people therefore can make a contribution to the health and wellbeing of others in their daily lives.