Responsibility for public health (FOI)

​Request

A

Within 'One Gov' who is responsible for public health?

B

Who commissions public health strategies and initiatives? Is it Health and Community Services as a whole or are there smaller teams?

C

Who is responsible for budgeting and deciding where funding is invested to benefit public health?

Response

• the Minister for Health and Social Services holds ministerial responsibility for public health matters.

• he is supported by officials in both Health and Community Services, and the new Strategic Policy, Performance and Planning (SPPP) department. Public health policy capacity is located within SPPP and provides expert advice and guidance to Ministers and officials.

• the social determinants of public health are wide ranging, and therefore strategies that address public health problems (which may relate to housing, education, transport, and so on, as well as health and care services) will be progressed across different government departments. The development of public health policy (strategies) is led by the public health policy team in SPPP.

• the Government Plan represents the priorities for this Government and includes a number of key public health priorities alongside the investment required for delivery.

• Ministers direct funding overall, within the budget parameters set out in the Government Plan. Accountability for the appropriate management of public money rests with the relevant Accountable Officers, depending on the nature of the specific initiative. Typically, therefore, the two key Accountable Officers providing financial oversight of public health initiatives are the Director General for Health and Community Services, and / or the Director General for Strategic Policy, Performance and Planning.