A consolation has launched on a draft bill that will provide a clear, unified legal basis for the delivery of public health functions and services.
Submissions are open until February 20.
Current legislation limits the public health duty to only Public Health and the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC), with many functions scattered across older acts that are difficult to update.
The proposed Bill consolidates these under one modern Act, enabling a coordinated, “health in all policies” approach across government.
Key proposals include formally appointing a Chief Public Health Officer, placing a general public health duty on all public bodies, and clarifying the legal basis for public health data and research.
Minister for the Cabinet Office, David Ashford, said: “The Bill does not set out to add new roles and functions – it does enable Public Health to have a more substantial role in appropriately informing policies across government.”
“The role of Public Health is to guide government departments, businesses and communities using a ‘health in all policies’ approach. This Bill firmly sets out that ethos,” he added.