Practising Public Health

Public health issues are rarely out of the news. The 9/11 terrorist attacks, the Grenfell Tower fire, new designer drugs, outbreaks of Ebola, and links between social media and mental health, occupy our thoughts and our screens. However, awareness of these events as public health issues is a recent phenomenon; for many years after the Second World War, the history of the field was eclipsed by advances in clinical science and patient care. In Practising Public Health: An Eyewitness Account, John Ashton sets the record straight. The former Regional Director of Public Health in the North West of England, and co-founder of the WHO Healthy Cities Project, shares his adventures and experiences as a leader in public health at a time of unprecedented change and challenge. He presents case studies from the frontline of public health, and tells stories that are now part of modern history. Fighting for a better public health at community, national, and international levels, John shows us how public engagement and partnership goes hand in hand with political action. The stories in this book illustrate the importance of using your imagination, challenging the status quo, and thinking on your feet when initiating change. John also reveals the thinking behind his renowned hands-on approach to public health, and explains why he insists on bridging the gap between theory and practice. Practising Public Health connects the work of nineteenth century public health giants to that of today's twenty first century pioneers, taking time to reflect over, dissect and highlight the events, decisions and people involved in its development. With case studies and story-telling, this book is ideal for undergraduate and postgraduate public health courses worldwide. It is also of high value to other health professional groups such as nurses and health visitors, social workers and community development activists, as well as politicians and policy makers.

Professor Ashton has had extensive experience of bridging both academic and practical worlds, and has been associated with some of the most celebrated public health interventions of the past 30 years in Europe and globally through collaborations with WHO and municipalities. These include action to tackle teenage pregnancy, the advent of HIV/Aids and a range of significant disasters and health emergencies. He was one of the founders of the WHO Healthy Cities Project, established the first UK Public Health Observatory, the first large scale syringe exchange programme and is known internationally for his work on Health Advocacy.

- Section 1: On the shoulders of giants - 1: Roots and Foundations - 2: Public Health at its Peak - the Interwar Years - Section 2: The Three Pillars of Public Health - 3: Improving Health in Mersey - 4: Promoting and Improving Health - 5: Protecting Health - 6: Population Health Care - Section 3: Synthesis - 7: No Health Without Mental Health - Mens Sane in Corpore Sano - 8: Healthy Cities - 9: Culture, Arts and Wellbeing - 10: Reflections