Growing interconnection of public health intelligence and information
Reforms of the public health and wider health system will have major technical, organisational and professional implications for the way that the public health intelligence systems operate in the future. This will raise the profile of the work and increase potential demands on the existing workforce.
Public Health Intelligence pulls together information on the health and wellbeing of a population, supporting the processes of commissioning, planning, developing, monitoring and reviewing health and social care services for efficient delivery. It involves collecting, analysing, interpreting, synthesising and communicating health intelligence. It also relates to assessing, measuring and describing health and wellbeing, health risks, health needs, and health outcomes of different populations. Translating data into knowledge results in commissioning decisions reflecting local needs. It also reduces inequalities and promotes population health whilst accumulating evidence of what works.
In a period of organisational change, a common set of protocols across organisations may be needed so that agencies (NHS to non-NHS) can share information, avoid duplication and maintain essential data protection requirements. Public health data may need to be made available at local levels to allow those with the authority and skills to interpret and undertake robust assessments of how programmes and proposed policies impact on health and wellbeing.
Current roles for those working in health intelligence and information range from senior information management roles in NHS Trusts, research and intelligence work for public health observatories, or data management in specific programmes and projects. This kind of work is carried out at regional, supra-district and district levels. There are strong indications of a growing need for expert and competent workers in public health intelligence advice and analysis to support programmes and initiatives at all levels.
Sources or references
- NHS White Paper
- Public Health Strategy for England
- Public Health Observatories Network for England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland
- Public Health Online Resource for Careers, Skills and Training: Working with information (Public Health Intelligence) accessed 16 Aug 2012
- Dismantling the signposts to public health? NHS data under the Health and Social Care Act 2012. Allyson M Pollock, Alison Macfarlane, Sylvia Godden. British Medical Journal 2012; 344:e2364 (Published 26 April 2012)
- Global Outbreak Alert and Response Network (GOARN) World Health Organization
Some of the information in this section is provided by stakeholders and expert groups, and does not necessarily represent the views of the CfWI.
