What is public health?
Welcome to the Health Services section. Please click on the links below to find out more about Health Services provided by NHS Dorset.
- Healthy Living >
Public health is about improving the health of the population rather than treating the diseases of individual patients. Public health doctors work with other professional groups to monitor the health of the community. They identify health needs, develop programmes to reduce risk and screen for early disease, control communicable disease, foster policies which promote health, plan and evaluate the provision of health care, and manage and implement change.
NHS Dorset's public health team's aim is to promote good health and deliver the best possible health care in partnership with communities and organisations.
We can do this through:
Tackling, advising and preventing:
- smoking
- obesity
- unhealthy diets
- depression
- infectious disease
Promoting healthy living strategies:
- increasing physical activity
- reducing weight to acceptable levels
- healthy eating involving an increased uptake of fruits and vegetables and reduction of fats, sugars and saturated oils
- mental health – stress reduction and relaxation
Improved environment:
- comfortable safe homes that are adequately heated
- road safety
- working with partner agencies to reduce crime and disorder within our communities