The Royal Environmental Health Institute of Scotland (REHIS) welcomes the opportunity to engage with the The Scottish Government as it announces its proposed changes to the NHS, Local Authorities, and wider public services.
Environmental Health is a core part of Scotland’s public health workforce, with a vital role in prevention, health protection and addressing the wider determinants of health. Environmental Health professionals work at the heart of communities, helping to prevent ill health and protect the public from a wide range of environmental and public health risks. Through its training and qualifications programmes, REHIS also supports businesses, communities and public sector organisations across Scotland to build knowledge and capacity in areas that contribute to healthier, safer environments, and as Scotland’s only Environmental Health awarding body, plays an important role in developing the skills and capacity needed to support these objectives.
Furthermore, REHIS believes that now is the right time to consider the appointment of a Chief Environmental Health Officer to provide strategic professional leadership for Environmental Health and support the transformation of public services in Scotland.
REHIS would welcome early and constructive engagement with the Scottish Government to ensure that the contribution of Environmental Health is fully recognised, supported and strengthened as part of these changes.
Investing in prevention and the Environmental Health workforce is essential to improving population health, reducing inequalities, and supporting sustainable public services across Scotland.
