Population and public health

This CPD module explains where and how pharmacy fits into current plans, including descriptions of population health management approaches and the expanding role of social prescribing.

The status of the healthy living pharmacy movement and how it connects with recent developments in population health is covered. The module also highlights a list of additional public health training resources for community pharmacy teams.

Key facts

• All four UK nations have national policies on public/population health and their own structures for delivery
• There are numerous examples of community pharmacy teams contributing to public and population health
• The healthy living pharmacy framework aims to achieve consistent provision of a broad range of health promotion interventions
• The UK home countries all commission national public health services through their respective community pharmacy contractual frameworks
• Social prescribing aims to improve the mental health and physical wellbeing of local populations

Contributing author: Professor Diane Ashiru-Oredope, PhD, FRSPH, FFRPS, FRPharmS; Lead Pharmacist, Antimicrobial Resistance and Healthcare Associated Infections, UK Health Security Agency; Honorary Chair and Professor of Pharmaceutical Public Health, University of Nottingham.

Acknowledgements: The following colleagues are acknowledged for their contributions: Professor Marion Bennie (Chief Pharmacist, Public Health Scotland), Dr Andrew Evans (Chief Pharmaceutical Officer, Welsh Government), Mr Christopher Garland (Senior Principal Pharmaceutical Officer, Department of Health, Northern Ireland) for reviewing draft content included for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland respectively; Angela Burini for contributing additional information to the resources for public health training resources; Eleanor Harvey and Hera Ali for reviewing the module prior to submission.