Public Health

Public Health focuses on promoting the health and well-being of people living in the Scottish Borders and protecting people from becoming ill.

The Public Health team is led by Tim Patterson, the Joint Director of Public Health for ourselves and NHS Borders.

Our work

• the Joint Health Improvement Team leads and supports work across the Scottish Borders to improve health and reduce health inequalities
• the Health Protection Team focus on protecting the public from infectious diseases and environmental hazards
• regulatory Services carry out work under a wide range of legislation relating to the health, safety and welfare of our Borders community
• alcohol and Drugs Partnership Support Team commission drug and alcohol services and interventions to reduce the impact of problem drug and alcohol in Borders
• the Service Improvement Team assesses population needs and evidence to shape the design of local services

What we can do for you?

• run programs to help children and families stay at a healthy weight
• offer stop smoking clinics to help people quit smoking
• provide "Keep Well" health checks and support to help people change their lifestyle and reduce their risk of ill health
• investigate outbreaks of food borne infection as well as other kinds of infection to prevent them happening again or getting worse
• provide general advice on communicable diseases and infection control in various community settings
• invite you to take part in various national immunisation and screening programmes
• contribute to ensuring that you have effective, accessible healthcare services
• provide information about drug and alcohol use in the Scottish Borders, and advice on where and how to get help for those with drug and alcohol problems