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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

    • Specialist Public Health Dietitian

      TBC, CF48 1BZ

      Salary:
      £37898.00 to £45637.00
      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) [12]
    • Specialist Public Health Practitioner (Health Visitor)

      Mansfield, NG183SF

      Salary:
      £37338.00 to £44962.00
      Type:
      Fixed-Term
      Employer:
      Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Specialist Public Health Practitioner (Health Visitor) job (opens in a new window) [13]
    • Senior Public Health Intelligence Specialist

      Barking, IG11 7LU

      Salary:
      £55620.00 to £59739.00
      Type:
      Permanent
      Employer:
      Barking and Dagenham Council
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Senior Public Health Intelligence Specialist job (opens in a new window) [14]
    • Consultant in Public Health Infection

      Bristol, BS1 6EH

      Salary:
      £91342.00 to £145478.00
      Type:
      Permanent
      Employer:
      UK Health Security Agency
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Consultant in Public Health Infection job (opens in a new window) [15]
    • Environmental Public Health Practitioner

      Birmingham, Leeds, London, Liverpool, E14 4PU

      Salary:
      £31997.00 to £43552.00
      Type:
      Permanent
      Employer:
      UK Health Security Agency
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Environmental Public Health Practitioner job (opens in a new window) [16]
    • Public Health 0-19 Practitioner - Health Visitor

      Tutbury, Burton upon Trent, DE13 9NA

      Salary:
      £37338.00 to £44962.00
      Type:
      Permanent
      Employer:
      Midlands Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Public Health 0-19 Practitioner - Health Visitor job (opens in a new window) [17]
    • Public Health 0-19 Practitioner - Health Visitor

      Tutbury, Burton upon Trent, DE13 9NA

      Salary:
      £37338.00 to £44962.00
      Type:
      Fixed-Term
      Employer:
      Midlands Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Public Health 0-19 Practitioner - Health Visitor job (opens in a new window) [18]
    • DBS0876 Infant Feeding Public Health Assistant

      Silverlink North, NE27 0BY

      Salary:
      £25584.00 to £26409.00
      Type:
      Permanent
      Employer:
      North Tyneside Council
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for DBS0876 Infant Feeding Public Health Assistant job (opens in a new window) [19]
    • 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) [20]
    • Patient and Public Involvement and Engagement Manager

      London, E1 4UJ

      Salary:
      £54320.00 to £60981.00
      Type:
      Permanent
      Employer:
      Barts Health NHS Trust
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Patient and Public Involvement and Engagement Manager job (opens in a new window) [21]
    • Primary Mental Health Specialist

      Gateshead, NE10 8DX

      Salary:
      £46148.00 to £52809.00
      Type:
      Permanent
      Employer:
      South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Primary Mental Health Specialist job (opens in a new window) [22]
    • Senior Safeguarding Public Protection and Mental Capacity Practitioner

      Lincoln, LN2 4WH

      Salary:
      £46148.00 to £52809.00
      Type:
      Permanent
      Employer:
      Lincolnshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Senior Safeguarding Public Protection and Mental Capacity Practitioner job (opens in a new window) [23]
    • Service Manager for Sexual Safety, Safeguarding & Public Protection

      Nottingham, NG3 6AA

      Salary:
      £53755.00 to £60504.00
      Type:
      Permanent
      Employer:
      Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Service Manager for Sexual Safety, Safeguarding & Public Protection job (opens in a new window) [24]
    • Global Health Consultant Microbiologist

      Birmingham, Leeds, Liverpool, London (Canary Wharf), E14 4PU

      Salary:
      £88168.00 to £139882.00
      Type:
      Fixed-Term
      Employer:
      UK Health Security Agency
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Global Health Consultant Microbiologist job (opens in a new window) [25]
    • Perinatal Mental Health Specialist Midwife

      Reading, RG1 5AN

      Salary:
      £46148.00 to £52809.00
      Type:
      Permanent
      Employer:
      Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Perinatal Mental Health Specialist Midwife job (opens in a new window) [26]
    • Senior Physiotherapist - Pelvic Health Specialist

      Exeter, EX2 4UG

      Salary:
      £43000.00 to £43000.00
      Type:
      Permanent
      Employer:
      Nuffield Health
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Senior Physiotherapist - Pelvic Health Specialist job (opens in a new window) [27]
    • Mental Health Employment Specialist

      Yeovil, BA20 2BN

      Salary:
      £37338.00 to £44962.00
      Type:
      Permanent
      Employer:
      Somerset NHS Foundation Trust
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Mental Health Employment Specialist job (opens in a new window) [28]
    • Specialist Pelvic Health Physiotherapist

      Harrogate, HG2 7SX

      Salary:
      £37338.00 to £44962.00
      Type:
      Permanent
      Employer:
      Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Specialist Pelvic Health Physiotherapist job (opens in a new window) [29]
    • Specialist Physiotherapist - Pelvic Health

      Bath, BA1 3NG

      Salary:
      £37338.00 to £44962.00
      Type:
      Permanent
      Employer:
      Royal United Hospitals Bath NHS Foundation Trust
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Specialist Physiotherapist - Pelvic Health job (opens in a new window) [30]
    • Consultant Occupational Health Physician

      Gloucester, GL1 1LY

      Salary:
      £105504.00 to £139882.00
      Type:
      Permanent
      Employer:
      Gloucestershire Health and Care NHS Foundation Trust
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Consultant Occupational Health Physician job (opens in a new window) [31]
    • Specialist Perinatal Mental Health Worker

      London, SE5 8AF

      Salary:
      £54320.00 to £60981.00
      Type:
      Secondment
      Employer:
      South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Specialist Perinatal Mental Health Worker job (opens in a new window) [32]
    • CAMHS Specialist Mental Health Practitioner

      Newark, NG24 3HJ

      Salary:
      £37338.00 to £44962.00
      Type:
      Permanent
      Employer:
      Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for CAMHS Specialist Mental Health Practitioner job (opens in a new window) [33]
    • Specialist Occupational Therapist - Physical Health

      Tooting, SW17 7DJ

      Salary:
      £61927.00 to £68676.00
      Type:
      Permanent
      Employer:
      South West London and St Georges Mental Health NHS Trust
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Specialist Occupational Therapist - Physical Health job (opens in a new window) [34]
    • 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) [35]
    • Specialist Perinatal Mental Health Practitioner

      Grimsby, DN32 0QE

      Salary:
      £31049.00 to £46580.00
      Type:
      Permanent
      Employer:
      Navigo Health and Social Care CIC
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Specialist Perinatal Mental Health Practitioner job (opens in a new window) [36]
    • Specialist Physiotherapist- Pelvic/Women's Health

      Barrow -in Furness, LA14 4LF

      Salary:
      £37338.00 to £44962.00
      Type:
      Permanent
      Employer:
      University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Trust
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Specialist Physiotherapist- Pelvic/Women's Health job (opens in a new window) [37]
    • Advanced Specialist Mental Health Pharmacist

      Reading, RG30 4EJ

      Salary:
      £46148.00 to £60504.00
      Type:
      Permanent
      Employer:
      Berkshire Healthcare Foundation Trust
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Advanced Specialist Mental Health Pharmacist job (opens in a new window) [38]
    • Consultant Paediatrician - Community Child Health

      Exeter, EX2 5DW

      Salary:
      £105504.00 to £139882.00
      Type:
      Permanent
      Employer:
      Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
      Apply now on NHS Jobs for Consultant Paediatrician - Community Child Health job (opens in a new window) [39]
    • 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) [40]
  • 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 [41]
    • Faculty of Public Health job descriptions [42]
    • Public Health Register [43]
    • British Society of Community Dentistry (BASCD) [44]
    • General Dental Council – Specialist Lists [45]

Other roles that may interest you

  • Public health knowledge and intelligence professional [46]
  • Public health manager [47]
  • Dentist [48]
  • Director of public health [49]

Partner logos

Faculty of Public Health [41]
Local Government Association [50]

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/H9110-25-0894 [13] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/C9186-25-0752 [14] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/F0130-PHEA00033 [15] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/K9919-25-0255 [16] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/K9919-25-0250 [17] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/C9301-25-0824 [18] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/C9301-25-0823 [19] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/F0030-25-0007 [20] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/C9369-25-0938 [21] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/C9259-25-1479 [22] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/C9155-CMAHP-0525-12-1 [23] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/C9274-25-0269 [24] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/C9186-25-0772 [25] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/K9919-25-0239 [26] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/C9193-25-0524 [27] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/E0302-25-0864 [28] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/C9184-25-1034 [29] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/C9421-25-0490 [30] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/C9427-25-0452 [31] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/C9327-25-0579 [32] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/C9334-25-0588 [33] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/C9186-25-0764 [34] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/C9294-25-0314 [35] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/C9197-25-0584 [36] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/B9816-073-5 [37] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/C9331-25-0573 [38] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/C9371-25-0531 [39] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/C0023-25-1187 [40] https://beta.jobs.nhs.uk/candidate/jobadvert/C9437-25-0219 [41] http://www.fph.org.uk/ [42] http://www.fph.org.uk/job_descriptions [43] http://www.publichealthregister.org.uk/ [44] http://www.bascd.org/ [45] http://www.gdc-uk.org/Dentalprofessionals/Specialistlist/Pages/default.aspx [46] https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/explore-roles/public-health/roles-public-health/public-health-knowledge-and-intelligence-professional [47] https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/explore-roles/public-health/roles-public-health/public-health-manager [48] https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/explore-roles/dental-team/roles-dental-team/dentist [49] https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/explore-roles/public-health/roles-public-health/director-public-health [50] http://www.local.gov.uk/