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Public Health Scotland (PHS;[1] Scottish Gaelic: Slàinte Poblach na h-Alba) is the national public health body for Scotland.[2][3] It is a Special NHS Health Board, and it is jointly accountable to the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA) and the Scottish Government. Fully exercising its functions from 1 April 2020 as Scotland's leading national agency for improving and protecting the health and well-being of all of Scotland's people, it is jointly sponsored by COSLA and the Scottish Government, and collaborates with third sector organisations.[4]
 | This article may rely excessively on sources too closely associated with the subject, potentially preventing the article from being verifiable and neutral. (March 2020) |
 | |
| Public Health Agency overview | |
|---|---|
| Formed | 1 April 2020 |
| Preceding Public Health Agency | |
| Jurisdiction | Scotland |
| Headquarters | Edinburgh, Scotland |
| Employees | 1,100 (approx.) |
| Annual budget | £47.9m (2020-21) |
| Ministers responsible |
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| Deputy Minister responsible | |
| Public Health Agency executive |
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| Website | www |
Its role is to increase healthy life expectancy and reduce premature mortality. Areas of focus are COVID-19, mental health and well-being, community and place, and poverty and children.[5]
The board's first chief executive was Angela Leitch, formerly chief executive of East Lothian Council.[6] Paul Johnston, formerly a Director General within the Scottish Government, took over the role in 2023.
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The board arose from a reorganisation of public health in Scotland, outlined in the 2015 Review of Public Health and further developed in the 2016 Health and Social Care Delivery Plan.[7][8] Public Health Scotland came into existence on 7 December 2019 under the Public Health Scotland Order 2019 and then property, rights and liabilities were transferred to it on 1 April 2020.[9]
A predecessor, Health Protection Scotland, continues to operate as part of Public Health Scotland.[10] PHS also took over the functions of NHS Scotland's Information Services Division, providing statistics and data analysis.[11]
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