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http://publichealthy.com/whatisph.aspx
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What is public health?
Public health relates to the health of the population, rather than the
individual. This more holistic approach involves tracking
illness frequency within a population (including infectious disease
outbreaks), preventing illness and promoting good health. Much ill
health is a direct or indirect result of socioeconomic background and
another responsibility of public health is to try to reduce health
inequalities.
Because assessments are made for the good of the population, rather than
purely the individual, in health services where resources are limited (as in
most countries with a publicly-funded service) public health also plays a
part in allocating resources and health service structure.
Many different governmental and non-governmental agencies are involved in
practising public health in the UK including the National Health Service
(NHS), local councils and education authorities, the Prison Service,
pharmacies and private businesses, and charities. Because the subject
crosses so many different fields, public health is practised by a large
number of different professionals from a wide variety of backgrounds,
including nursing, medical and dental backgrounds.
One of the earliest notable Public Health practitioners was a physician
called John
Snow. During a high mortality cholera outbreak in London in the
mid-19th century he narrowed down the source of the infection to one
particular well; it is worth bearing in mind that this logic went against a
lot of the received wisdom of the day concerning disease transmission.
Dr Snow famously removed the handle of the well pump - making it inoperable
- and therefore managed to control the spread of the disease.
Read more about formal
training to be a Public Health specialist in the UK,
a day in the life of a
Public Health trainee, particular
topics in Public Health or
the latest news, or browse the
menu on the left. Need help with any of the jargon? See the
Glossary.
Pencheon, D et al. Oxford Handbook of Public Health Practice (2e). ISBN:
0198566557 - an excellent and
concise introduction to a wide variety of Public Health topics
Farmer R, Lawrenson R. Lecture Notes on Epidemiology and Public Health
Medicine, Blackwell Science. ISBN: 1405106743 - a very brief but informative
introductory text