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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

    • Public Health Consultant

      London, SE1 7NJ

      Salary:
      £99808.00 to £113803.00
      Type:
      Fixed-Term
      Employer:
      Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Public Health Consultant job (opens in a new window) [12]
    • Consultant in Public Health/Consultant in Public Health Medicine

      Oxford, 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) [13]
    • Locum Consultant in Public Health Medicine / Public Health

      Baglan, Port Talbot, SA12 7BR

      Salary:
      Negotiable
      Type:
      Fixed-Term
      Employer:
      Swansea Bay University Health Board
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Locum Consultant in Public Health Medicine / Public Health job (opens in a new window) [14]
    • Specialist Public Health Dietitian

      TBC, CF48 1BZ

      Salary:
      £39263.00 to £47280.00
      Type:
      Permanent
      Employer:
      Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Specialist Public Health Dietitian job (opens in a new window) [15]
    • Consultant in Public Health

      London, SE1 7NJ

      Salary:
      £105504.00 to £139882.00
      Type:
      Fixed-Term
      Employer:
      Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Consultant in Public Health job (opens in a new window) [16]
    • Health Visitor - Specialist Public Health Practitioner

      Retford / Worksop, DN22 7XF

      Salary:
      £38682.00 to £46580.00
      Type:
      Permanent
      Employer:
      Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Health Visitor - Specialist Public Health Practitioner job (opens in a new window) [17]
    • Public Health Assistant

      Folkestone, CT20 1SZ

      Salary:
      £24625.00 to £25674.00
      Type:
      Permanent
      Employer:
      Kent Community Health NHS Foundation Trust
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Public Health Assistant job (opens in a new window) [18]
    • Public Health Practitioner

      Mansfield, NG20 0BP

      Salary:
      £31049.00 to £37796.00
      Type:
      Permanent
      Employer:
      Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Public Health Practitioner job (opens in a new window) [19]
    • Public Health Researcher

      Cardiff, CF10 4BZ

      Salary:
      £46840.00 to £53602.00
      Type:
      Permanent
      Employer:
      Public Health Wales
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Public Health Researcher job (opens in a new window) [20]
    • Public Health Intelligence Analyst

      Swindon, SN1 2JG

      Salary:
      £39513.00
      Type:
      Permanent
      Employer:
      Swindon Borough Council
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Public Health Intelligence Analyst job (opens in a new window) [21]
    • Public Health and Clinical Fellow

      London, Birmingham, Manchester, Bristol, Salisbury, NW9 5EQ

      Salary:
      £49909.00 to £70425.00
      Type:
      Fixed-Term
      Employer:
      UK Health Security Agency
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Public Health and Clinical Fellow job (opens in a new window) [22]
    • Deputy Director of Public Health

      Port Talbot, SA12 7BR

      Salary:
      Negotiable
      Type:
      Permanent
      Employer:
      Swansea Bay University Health Board
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Deputy Director of Public Health job (opens in a new window) [23]
    • HCP 0-19 Public Health Practitioner

      Huntingdon, PE29 7HN

      Salary:
      £29970.00 to £36483.00
      Type:
      Permanent
      Employer:
      Cambridgeshire Community Services NHS Trust
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for HCP 0-19 Public Health Practitioner job (opens in a new window) [24]
    • *INTERNAL MPFT APPS* Public Health 0-19 Practitioner - Health Visitor

      Lichfield, WS13 7HT

      Salary:
      £37338.00 to £44962.00
      Type:
      Permanent
      Employer:
      Midlands Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for *INTERNAL MPFT APPS* Public Health 0-19 Practitioner - Health Visitor job (opens in a new window) [25]
    • Public Health Assistant -Early Years 0-5 years

      Tunbridge Wells, TN2 5HU

      Salary:
      £24625.00 to £25674.00
      Type:
      Permanent
      Employer:
      Kent Community Health NHS Foundation Trust
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Public Health Assistant -Early Years 0-5 years job (opens in a new window) [26]
    • Mental Health Specialist Practitioner

      London, SE18 4LP

      Salary:
      £53751.00 to £60651.00
      Type:
      Permanent
      Employer:
      London Ambulance Service NHS Trust
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Mental Health Specialist Practitioner job (opens in a new window) [27]
    • Health Play Specialist

      317 Trustwide, NE1 4LP

      Salary:
      £27485.00 to £30162.00
      Type:
      Fixed-Term
      Employer:
      The Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Health Play Specialist job (opens in a new window) [28]
    • Perinatal Mental Health Specialist Midwife

      Liverpool, L8 7SS

      Salary:
      £47810.00 to £54710.00
      Type:
      Permanent
      Employer:
      Liverpool Women's NHS Foundation Trust
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Perinatal Mental Health Specialist Midwife job (opens in a new window) [29]
    • Specialist Physiotherapist - Specialist Pelvic Health

      Burton, DE14 3NT

      Salary:
      £38682.00 to £46580.00
      Type:
      Permanent
      Employer:
      Midlands Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Specialist Physiotherapist - Specialist Pelvic Health job (opens in a new window) [30]
    • Young Adults Service Mental Health Specialist Practitioner

      Gloucester, GL1 2EB

      Salary:
      £47810.00 to £54710.00
      Type:
      Permanent
      Employer:
      Gloucestershire Health and Care NHS Foundation Trust
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Young Adults Service Mental Health Specialist Practitioner job (opens in a new window) [31]
    • CAMH Specialist Mental Health Practitioner

      London, TW7 6AF

      Salary:
      £53751.00 to £60651.00
      Type:
      Permanent
      Employer:
      West London NHS Trust
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for CAMH Specialist Mental Health Practitioner job (opens in a new window) [32]
    • Bank Specialist Physiotherapist - Women's Health

      Elland, HX5 9EB

      Salary:
      Negotiable
      Type:
      Bank
      Employer:
      Spire Healthcare Ltd
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Bank Specialist Physiotherapist - Women's Health job (opens in a new window) [33]
    • 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) [34]
    • Advanced Specialist Mental Health Pharmacist

      Reading, RG30 4EJ

      Salary:
      £47810.00 to £62682.00
      Type:
      Permanent
      Employer:
      Berkshire Healthcare Foundation Trust
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Advanced Specialist Mental Health Pharmacist job (opens in a new window) [35]
    • Infant Feeding Specialist Health Visitor

      London, BR1 5EP

      Salary:
      £46148.00 to £52809.00
      Type:
      Fixed-Term
      Employer:
      Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Infant Feeding Specialist Health Visitor job (opens in a new window) [36]
    • Informatics Clinical Health Care Specialist

      Carmarthen, SA31 3BB

      Salary:
      £48527.00 to £55532.00
      Type:
      Fixed-Term
      Employer:
      Hywel Dda University Health Board
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Informatics Clinical Health Care Specialist job (opens in a new window) [37]
    • ARRS Specialist Mental Health Practitioner

      Wareham, BH20 4PG

      Salary:
      £23905.00 to £27355.00
      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) [38]
    • Specialist Clinical Pharmacist (Mental Health)

      Lincolnshire, LN1 1EJ

      Salary:
      £47810.00 to £54710.00
      Type:
      Permanent
      Employer:
      Lincolnshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Specialist Clinical Pharmacist (Mental Health) job (opens in a new window) [39]
    • Locum Consultant Occupational Health Physician

      Oxford, OX3 9DU

      Salary:
      £105504.00 to £139882.00
      Type:
      Locum
      Employer:
      Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Locum Consultant Occupational Health Physician job (opens in a new window) [40]
    • Consultant Psychologist Forensic Mental Health

      Carmarthen, SA31 3BB

      Salary:
      £78120.00 to £90013.00
      Type:
      Permanent
      Employer:
      Hywel Dda University Health Board
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Consultant Psychologist Forensic Mental Health job (opens in a new window) [41]
    • Consultant Psychiatrist - Mental Health Liaison

      Hereford, HR1 2ER

      Salary:
      Negotiable
      Type:
      Permanent
      Employer:
      Herefordshire and Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Consultant Psychiatrist - Mental Health Liaison job (opens in a new window) [42]
    • Consultant Psychologist in Health & Justice

      Milton Keynes, MK4 4DA

      Salary:
      £76965.00 to £88682.00
      Type:
      Permanent
      Employer:
      Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Consultant Psychologist in Health & Justice job (opens in a new window) [43]
    • 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) [44]
    • Deputy Head of Occupational Health/ Specialist Business Manager

      Nottingham, NG5 1PB

      Salary:
      £55690.00 to £62682.00
      Type:
      Permanent
      Employer:
      Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trusts
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Deputy Head of Occupational Health/ Specialist Business Manager job (opens in a new window) [45]
    • Mental Health and Wellbeing Specialist Practitioner

      Cambridge, CB2 0QQ

      Salary:
      £46148.00 to £52809.00
      Type:
      Permanent
      Employer:
      Cambridge University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Mental Health and Wellbeing Specialist Practitioner job (opens in a new window) [46]
    • Health Care Assistant - General & Specialist Medicine

      Bury, BL9 7TD

      Salary:
      £24937.00 to £26598.00
      Type:
      Permanent
      Employer:
      Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Health Care Assistant - General & Specialist Medicine job (opens in a new window) [47]
  • 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 [48]
    • Faculty of Public Health job descriptions [49]
    • Public Health Register [50]
    • British Society of Community Dentistry (BASCD) [51]
    • General Dental Council – Specialist Lists [52]

Other roles that may interest you

  • Public health knowledge and intelligence professional [53]
  • Public health manager [54]
  • Dentist [55]
  • Director of public health [56]

Partner logos

Faculty of Public Health [48]
Local Government Association [57]

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

Links
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