The British Dietetic Association is pleased to support the launch of new Allied Health Professionals (AHP) Public Health Strategic Framework. The Framework was co-created by the Allied Health Professions Federation and Public Health England, with support from public health bodies in each of the four UK countries and individual professional bodies.
The strategy sets out the vision for the roles of AHPs in public health over the next five years and the goals to achieve that vision. It builds on previous strategic documents to provide a united, collective approach to Public Health for the Allied Health Professions across all four nations.
The key goals of the new strategy are;
1. Developing the AHP workforce with the skills and knowledge to promote public health
2. Demonstrating the impact of AHPs in public health through research and evaluation
3. Increasing the profile of the AHP public health role amongst key audiences
4. Growing strategic connections between AHPs and health sector leaders
5. Using AHPs to improve the health and wellbeing of the health and care workforce
The new strategic framework can be found here.
Caroline Bovey BEM, BDA Chair said; “Dietitians are proud to be a part of the Allied Health Professions workforce, and this new AHP strategy is very welcome, especially as it is UK wide, bringing together great existing work in all four nations. I strongly believe all dietitians and wider AHPs have a big role to play to public health and prevention, whether they are in specific public health roles, the private sector or highly acute hospital settings.
“This strategy represents good progress in promoting and realising the potential of AHPs, although it needs to be backed up by funding and support from government ministers, commissioners and local authorities.”
Notes to the Editor:
- The British Dietetic Association (BDA), founded in 1936, is the professional association and trade union for dietitians in Great Britain and Northern Ireland. It is the nation’s largest organisation of food and nutrition professionals with over 9,500 members.
- Dietitians are highly qualified health professionals that assess, diagnose and treat diet and nutrition problems at an individual and wider public health level. They are statutorily regulated by the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC), alongside other Allied Health Professions.
- Dietitians use the most up to date public health and scientific research on food, health and disease, which they translate into practical guidance to enable people to make appropriate lifestyle and food choices. They work in the NHS, private practice, industry, education, research, sport, media and government. Their advice influences food and health policy across the spectrum from government and global industry to local communities and individuals.
- AHPs are the third largest workforce group in the NHS. There are over 150,000 AHPs working within a range of surroundings including hospitals, people’s homes, clinics, surgeries, the justice system, local authorities, private and voluntary sectors and primary, secondary and tertiary education.
- The Allied Health Professions Federation (AHPF) is made up of twelve professional bodies representing Allied Health Professionals (AHPs):
- British Association for Music Therapy (BAMT)
- The British Association of Art Therapists (BAAT)
- British Association of Dramatherapists (BADth)
- The British Dietetic Association (BDA)
- British Association of Prosthetists and Orthotists (BAPO)
- British and Irish Orthoptic Society (BIOS)
- Royal College of Occupational Therapists (RCOT)
- Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP)
- The College of Paramedics
- The College of Podiatry (CoP)
- Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists (RCSLT)
- Society and College of Radiographers (SCoR)