The Future of Health Improvement

Update: The new Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID) was launched on 1^st October 2021. It will be led jointly by Dr Jeanelle de Gruchy as DCMO reporting to the CMO, and Jonathan Marron as Director General playing a key role with oversight of ‘pay and rations’. We called for local government to be at the heart of system leadership, and the appointment of Jeanelle is welcome. She has proven herself a very effective and independent public health leader in her role as President of ADPH, as well as a highly respected and experienced expert in delivering public health on the ground.

Alongside this announcement there were also further details on the structure of OHID and who will lead the new directorates. The full list is set out below:

• Director General, OHID – Jonathan Marron (previously DG for Public Health)
• DCMO, OHID – Dr Jeanelle de Gruchy (previously Director of Public Health in Tameside, and President of ADPH)
• Director of Public Health Policy, Systems and Innovation – Cathy Morgan previously Director of Strategy at PHE)
• Director of Diet, Obesity and Healthy Behaviours – Natasha Burgon (previously Principal Private Secretary to Sajid Javid)
• Director of Addiction and Inclusion – Rosanna O’Connor (previously in very similar role and responsible for tobacco at PHE)
• Director of Public Health Analysis – Professor John Newton (formerly Director of Health Improvement at PHE)
• Director of Prevention Services – Gila Sacks
• Director of Early Years, Children and Families – Liz Ketch
• Joint DWP/DHSC Work & Health Unit – Dilys Alam
• Chief Public Health Nurse – Professor Viv Bennett

Although there is still much to be clarified, overall the structure of the new public health system reflects much of what we called for and in the more detailed input that ASH made to the consultation on the new structure. However, we will need to continue to monitor the system as it evolves to ensure that it meets up to the six tests set out in our second joint statement.