Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he is taking steps to help ensure that public health organisations make the (a) the wellbeing and health of patients and (b) public interest their first priorities.

The Government is committed to prioritising the public interest, and the health and wellbeing of patients. As per the 2006 Health Act, the Secretary of State is responsible for protecting the public from disease or other dangers to health, and for improving the health of the population.

Public health and health protection functions sit with the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID) and the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA). OHID drives forward efforts to prevent ill health, particularly in the places and communities where there are the most significant disparities. UKHSA prepares for and responds to infectious diseases, and environmental hazards, to keep all our communities safe, save lives and protect livelihoods.

The National Health Service also has a part to play in delivering population health outcomes. In responding to the Hewitt Review, the Government has reiterated its support for systems, and the unique opportunity they present to make meaningful long-term improvements to populations’ health and wellbeing.