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‘Strong, united voice’ for public health looks imminent

The Public Health Alliance and the Association for Public Health, two of the UK’s leading organisations campaigning on public health, look set to join forces to create a ‘united voice’ for the sector.

A special joint general conference is to be held next March, after which it is anticipated both associations will be disbanded and a new organisation formed. Members of both bodies are being consulted, and other professional organisations with an interest in public health are being asked for their views.

The PHA, established in 1988 when the Thatcher government was maintaining poverty had nothing to do with health, has been best known for its campaigns and publications, and for supporting public health activists at a local level. The APH, formed in 1992, mainly by people in higher positions in public health, has made more of an impact in the media and in lobbying parliament.

A new organisation incorporating the strengths of both associations will create a ‘strong, united voice for public health’, said PHA project manager Maggie Winters. ‘And we hope other professional organisations will become involved for the purposes of lobbying and developing policy.’

APH chief executive Donald Reid agreed the time is right for a more unified approach. ‘Our activities are complementary,’ he said. ‘And with the change of government, everyone is supporting the same agenda.’

Consultation on the proposed new organisation, covering issues such as its aims and objectives, its structure and how policies will be formed, is expected to be completed by the end of the year.