Tackling Health Inequalities ― Reinventing the Role of Environmental Health

Although environmental health has received some recognition as a field which can positively impact on the social determinants of health, it remains little known outside its immediate sphere of influence. There is also limited literature available to support the potential impact of the profession in public health policy circles and there has been an overreliance on anecdotal rather than firm evidence.

This book presents the findings of an empirical research project focussed on public health policy making (English Health and Wellbeing Boards), health inequalities and environmental health and provides an insight to the environmental health profession and routes of impact and influence. It discusses environmental health in the context of public health, the role of the profession, issues of visibility and opportunities for impact in today’s policy landscape. In particular, a focus on the local government context is timely given the shifting of the public health function from the NHS to local authorities. This book is essential reading for students, practitioners and policy makers in the fields of environmental health and public health.

Surindar Dhesi is a Lecturer and course leader of the IOSH-accredited MSc Science of Occupational Health, Safety and Environment at the University of Birmingham. She is also an active Chartered Environmental Health Practitioner and is an Associate Fellow of the Higher Education Academy.