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Public health consultants and specialists

Public health specialists and consultants help people and communities maximise their potential for a healthy, happy and productive life, so they can live healthier for longer. 

You’ll focus on health at a population level, looking at ways to make communities and environments healthier, reducing ill-health and tackling health inequalities.

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Life as a public health specialist and consultant

Public health specialists and consultants are strategists, senior managers or senior scientists in public health. You’ll need skills and knowledge in health protection, health improvement and healthcare public health but, in practice, you may specialise in one area.

Public health specialists come from a wide range of backgrounds, and may or may not hold a medical degree. 

You could be employed in different sectors, including local government, central government or its executive agencies, the NHS, universities, the defence services, the private sector or the voluntary and social enterprise sector.

Daniel Flecknoe

Specialty registrar in public health
The training programme is fantastic, because as well as giving you the opportunity to experience a lot of different sorts of public health work, you also have a certain freedom to pursue your personal interests, so long as you can demonstrate that you are achieving the required competencies.
Read Daniel's story [4]

As a public health specialist or consultant, you’ll work with a range of organisations to: 

  • deal with complex public health issues
  • either lead or work with senior colleagues to plan and deliver policies and programmes (‘interventions’) that aim to influence the health of groups of people (‘populations’) at local, regional and national levels
  • plan and lead the evaluation of such programmes
  • provide professional, evidence-based and ethical advice to guide the commissioning of services, ensuring that they are high-quality, clinically safe, cost-effective, and that they will improve health and wellbeing and reduce health inequalities across primary care [5], secondary care [6], and social care
  • lead on gathering and interpretating information

One area you could specialise in is epidemiology [7], leading on projects to tackle outbreaks of disease or environmental hazards. You’ll investigate their origins, assess the relative effectiveness and cost of different approaches to tackling them, and make recommendations for action. This type of work is currently very high profile, given the COVID-19 global pandemic.

Your work will have a large management and leadership element, and you’ll be responsible for departmental budgets, managing staff, delivering core training and commissioning research projects.

How much can I earn?

As a specialist working at consultant level in the NHS, your salary will be between £105,504 and £139,882. 

If you choose specialty training as a route to consultant level, you can expect to earn a salary of at least £49,909 during your training. 

How about the benefits?

  • making a difference
  • flexible and part-time working
  • high income early in your career  
  • working anywhere in the world  
  • excellent pension scheme
  • good holiday entitlement

Must-have skills

  • flexibility to cope with multiple and changing demands
  • ability to meet tight deadlines
  • high level of intellectual rigour
  • political awareness, tact and diplomacy
  • ability to understand a range of cultures
  • ability to work across organisational and geographic boundaries
  • ability to advise, challenge and advocate
  • negotiation and motivation skills
  • ability to influence without having direct authority.

The Public Health Skills and Knowledge Framework (PHSKF) [8] describes the functions and activities carried out by people working to protect and promote the public’s health across the UK. 

Entry requirements

You can become a public health specialist from a wide variety of backgrounds including medicine, dentistry, nursing, research, teaching, science and environmental health. 

The specialty training programme is open to non-medical and medical applicants. It usually lasts five years and you may be able to train part-time, for example, for health reasons or due to caring responsibilities. You will need to have one of the following:

  • a first degree at 1st or 2:1 
  • a Master’s or PhD
  • a degree in medicine or equivalent medical qualification 

What are my chances of starting a career in public health?

In 2024, there were 1508 applications for 105 NHS specialty training places. 

How to become a public health specialist and consultant

To hold professional registration as a public health specialist, you’ll need to go through an approved programme of study or a portfolio route. To be a consultant in public health, you must also hold a professional registration at public health specialist level with either the General Medical Council (GMC), the General Dental Council (GDC) or the UK Public Health Register (UKPHR) as appropriate.

See the UKPHR [9] and Faculty of Public Health [10] websites for more information on specialist registration. 

Where a career as a public health specialist and consultant can take you

You could: 
  • specialise or conduct research in areas such as dental public health, infectious diseases and hazards (epidemiology [7]) or health improvement
  • teach public health students or postgraduate students in training 
  • strategic and leadership positions
  • get involved in research at universities, in the NHS or private sector
  • You can see the latest NHS public health specialist vacancies below. Non-NHS vacancies are also available on the Civil Service Careers website [11] and on council, private and voluntary sector websites.

    Find a vacancy

    • Consultant in Public Health/Consultant in Public Health Medicine

      County hall, OX1 1ND

      Salary:
      £91615.00 to £103835.00
      Type:
      Permanent
      Employer:
      Oxfordshire County Council
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Consultant in Public Health/Consultant in Public Health Medicine job (opens in a new window) [12]
    • Consultant In Public Health

      Darlington, DL3 6HX
      Durham, DH1 5TW

      Salary:
      Negotiable
      Type:
      Permanent
      Employer:
      County Durham & Darlington NHS Foundation Trust
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Consultant In Public Health job (opens in a new window) [13]
    • Consultant Midwife Public Health

      London, E11 1NR

      Salary:
      £80025.00 to £91336.00
      Type:
      Fixed-Term
      Employer:
      Barts Health NHS Trust
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Consultant Midwife Public Health job (opens in a new window) [14]
    • Highly Specialist Public Health Dietitian

      To Be Confirmed, CF481BZ

      Salary:
      £46840.00 to £53602.00
      Type:
      Permanent
      Employer:
      Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Highly Specialist Public Health Dietitian job (opens in a new window) [15]
    • Bank Specialist Public Health Dietitian

      CTM WIDE, CF37 4AL

      Salary:
      £37898.00 to £45637.00
      Type:
      Bank
      Employer:
      Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Bank Specialist Public Health Dietitian job (opens in a new window) [16]
    • Public Health Practitioner

      Trowbridge, BA14 8JN

      Salary:
      £38626.00 to £40476.00
      Type:
      Fixed-Term
      Employer:
      Wiltshire Council
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Public Health Practitioner job (opens in a new window) [17]
    • Bank Highly Specialist Public Health Dietitian

      Pontypridd, CF37 4AL

      Salary:
      £46840.00 to £53602.00
      Type:
      Bank
      Employer:
      Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Bank Highly Specialist Public Health Dietitian job (opens in a new window) [18]
    • Assistant Public Health Practitioner

      Sutton in Ashfield, NG17 1BE

      Salary:
      £26530.00 to £29114.00
      Type:
      Permanent
      Employer:
      Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Assistant Public Health Practitioner job (opens in a new window) [19]
    • Director of Public Health

      Truro, TR1 3AY

      Salary:
      £87645.00 to £122911.00
      Type:
      Permanent
      Employer:
      Cornwall Council
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Director of Public Health job (opens in a new window) [20]
    • Environmental Public Health Scientist

      Cardiff, CF10 4BZ

      Salary:
      £46840.00 to £53602.00
      Type:
      Fixed-Term
      Employer:
      Public Health Wales
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Environmental Public Health Scientist job (opens in a new window) [21]
    • Director of Public Health

      Silverlink North, NE27 0BY

      Salary:
      £105467.00
      Type:
      Permanent
      Employer:
      North Tyneside Council
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Director of Public Health job (opens in a new window) [22]
    • Public Health Programme Manager

      Carmarthen, SA31 3BB

      Salary:
      £75405.00 to £86885.00
      Type:
      Fixed-Term
      Employer:
      Hywel Dda University Health Board
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Public Health Programme Manager job (opens in a new window) [23]
    • Public health lead - healthy behaviours

      Hereford, HR4 0LE

      Salary:
      £44711.00 to £48710.00
      Type:
      Permanent
      Employer:
      Herefordshire Council
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Public health lead - healthy behaviours job (opens in a new window) [24]
    • Bank Public Health Dietetic Assistant Practitioner

      Merthyr Tydfil, CF48 1BZ

      Salary:
      £26928.00 to £29551.00
      Type:
      Bank
      Employer:
      Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Bank Public Health Dietetic Assistant Practitioner job (opens in a new window) [25]
    • Clinical Specialist - Safeguarding and Public Protection

      Exeter, EX2 5AF

      Salary:
      £53755.00 to £60504.00
      Type:
      Permanent
      Employer:
      Devon Partnership NHS Trust
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Clinical Specialist - Safeguarding and Public Protection job (opens in a new window) [26]
    • Senior Communications Manager (public affairs)

      Hampstead, NW3 2QG

      Salary:
      £54320.00 to £60981.00
      Type:
      Permanent
      Employer:
      Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Senior Communications Manager (public affairs) job (opens in a new window) [27]
    • Forensic Mental Health Specialist

      London, SE1 7LP

      Salary:
      £51883.00 to £58544.00
      Type:
      Permanent
      Employer:
      North London NHS Foundation Trust
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Forensic Mental Health Specialist job (opens in a new window) [28]
    • Health Play Specialist

      London, TW7 6AF

      Salary:
      £31081.00 to £33665.00
      Type:
      Permanent
      Employer:
      Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Health Play Specialist job (opens in a new window) [29]
    • Health Play Specialist

      London, WC1N 3JH

      Salary:
      £31944.00 to £34937.00
      Type:
      Permanent
      Employer:
      Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Health Play Specialist job (opens in a new window) [30]
    • Health Improvement Practitioner Specialist

      Morpeth, NE61 2EF

      Salary:
      £38626.00 to £42708.00
      Type:
      Permanent
      Employer:
      Northumberland County Council
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Health Improvement Practitioner Specialist job (opens in a new window) [31]
    • Specialist Occupational Health Physiotherapist

      Blackburn, BB2 3HH

      Salary:
      £37338.00 to £44962.00
      Type:
      Fixed-Term
      Employer:
      East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Specialist Occupational Health Physiotherapist job (opens in a new window) [32]
    • Locum Consultant - Sexual Health

      Sunderland, SR4 7TP

      Salary:
      £105504.00 to £139882.00
      Type:
      Fixed-Term
      Employer:
      South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Locum Consultant - Sexual Health job (opens in a new window) [33]
    • ARRS Specialist Mental Health Practitioner

      Bournemouth, BH3 7AT

      Salary:
      £46148.00 to £52809.00
      Type:
      Permanent
      Employer:
      Dorset HealthCare University NHS Foundation Trust
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for ARRS Specialist Mental Health Practitioner job (opens in a new window) [34]
    • ARRS Specialist Mental Health Practitioner

      Verwood, BH31 6EH

      Salary:
      £46148.00 to £52809.00
      Type:
      Permanent
      Employer:
      Dorset HealthCare University NHS Foundation Trust
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for ARRS Specialist Mental Health Practitioner job (opens in a new window) [35]
    • Specialist Pharmacist Inpatient Mental Health

      St Leonards on Sea, TN23 7PT

      Salary:
      £46148.00 to £52809.00
      Type:
      Permanent
      Employer:
      Sussex Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Specialist Pharmacist Inpatient Mental Health job (opens in a new window) [36]
    • Play Specialist - Health Play Team

      Crewe, CW1 4QJ

      Salary:
      £26530.00 to £29114.00
      Type:
      Permanent
      Employer:
      Mid Cheshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Play Specialist - Health Play Team job (opens in a new window) [37]
    • Consultant Mental Health Liaison - Bolton

      Farnworth, Bolton, BL4 0JR

      Salary:
      £105504.00 to £139882.00
      Type:
      Permanent
      Employer:
      Greater Manchester Mental Health NHSFT
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Consultant Mental Health Liaison - Bolton job (opens in a new window) [38]
    • Specialist Occupational Therapist - Adult Mental Health

      Truro, TR1 2RA

      Salary:
      £29970.00 to £44962.00
      Type:
      Permanent
      Employer:
      Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Specialist Occupational Therapist - Adult Mental Health job (opens in a new window) [39]
    • Specialist Midwife, Drugs, Alcohol & Mental Health

      Manchester, M8 5RB

      Salary:
      £37338.00 to £44962.00
      Type:
      Permanent
      Employer:
      Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Specialist Midwife, Drugs, Alcohol & Mental Health job (opens in a new window) [40]
    • Specialist Young People's Mental Health Practitioner

      Grimsby, DN32 0QE
      Grimsby, DN33 1NU

      Salary:
      £29970.00 to £44962.00
      Type:
      Permanent
      Employer:
      Navigo Health and Social Care CIC
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Specialist Young People's Mental Health Practitioner job (opens in a new window) [41]
    • Specialist Mental Health Practitioner - Occupational Therapist

      Exeter, EX2 4NU
      Dartington, TQ9 6JE
      Torquay, TQ2 7BA
      Barnstaple, EX31 3UD

      Salary:
      £46148.00 to £52809.00
      Type:
      Permanent
      Employer:
      Devon Partnership NHS Trust
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Specialist Mental Health Practitioner - Occupational Therapist job (opens in a new window) [42]
    • Specialist Occupational Therapist, Adult Mental Health

      Wrexham, LL13 7TD

      Salary:
      Negotiable
      Type:
      Permanent
      Employer:
      Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Specialist Occupational Therapist, Adult Mental Health job (opens in a new window) [43]
  • These organisations have further information about being a public health specialist or consultant, particularly as your career progresses. Take a look.

    • Faculty of Public Health [44]
    • Faculty of Public Health job descriptions [45]
    • Public Health Register [46]
    • British Society of Community Dentistry (BASCD) [47]
    • General Dental Council – Specialist Lists [48]

Other roles that may interest you

  • Public health knowledge and intelligence professional [49]
  • Public health manager [50]
  • Dentist [51]
  • Director of public health [52]

Partner logos

Faculty of Public Health [44]
Local Government Association [53]

Source URL:https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/explore-roles/public-health/roles-public-health/public-health-consultants-and-specialists

Links
[1] https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/privacy-and-cookies/#CookieDeclarationChangeConsentChange [2] https://www.youtube.com/NHSCareers [3] https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/about/resources/transcript-ann-goodwin [4] https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/explore-roles/public-health/roles-public-health/public-health-consultants-and-specialists/real-life-story-daniel-flecknoe [5] https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/glossary#Primary_care [6] https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/glossary#Secondary_care [7] https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/glossary#Epidemiology [8] https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/public-health-skills-and-knowledge-framework [9] https://ukphr.org/overview-of-public-health/ [10] https://www.fph.org.uk/training-careers/specialty-training/ [11] https://www.civil-service-careers.gov.uk/ [12] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/F0069-25-0018 [13] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/C9439-2425-1566 [14] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/C9259-25-1288 [15] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/H9110-25-0790 [16] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/H9110-25-0830 [17] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/F0041-4980 [18] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/H9110-25-0781 [19] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/C9186-25-0709 [20] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/F0021-A000856 [21] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/C9028-25-0169 [22] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/F0030-25-0006 [23] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/H9100-25-0697 [24] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/F0084-2275 [25] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/H9110-25-0832 [26] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/C9369-25-0938 [27] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/C9391-25-1042 [28] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/C9455-25-0225 [29] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/C9289-CS-33-A [30] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/C9271-25-0382 [31] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/F0022-25-0024 [32] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/C9435-25-0222 [33] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/C9155-FCMD-0525-26 [34] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/C9152-25-0416 [35] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/C9152-25-0417 [36] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/C9354-25-0564 [37] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/C9412-25-0349 [38] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/C9437-25-0219 [39] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/C9201-25-0554 [40] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/C9349-25-1631 [41] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/B9816-480 [42] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/C9369-25-0144-3 [43] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/H9050-25-1595 [44] http://www.fph.org.uk/ [45] http://www.fph.org.uk/job_descriptions [46] http://www.publichealthregister.org.uk/ [47] http://www.bascd.org/ [48] http://www.gdc-uk.org/Dentalprofessionals/Specialistlist/Pages/default.aspx [49] https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/explore-roles/public-health/roles-public-health/public-health-knowledge-and-intelligence-professional [50] https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/explore-roles/public-health/roles-public-health/public-health-manager [51] https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/explore-roles/dental-team/roles-dental-team/dentist [52] https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/explore-roles/public-health/roles-public-health/director-public-health [53] http://www.local.gov.uk/