A new briefing published today by RSPH has revealed how the wider public health workforce is suffering from a skills and labour shortage which is being exacerbated by changing immigration and visa rules.

From food safety and hygiene officers to environmental health officials, the wider public health workforce is vital to ensuring the ongoing protection of our national health.

Whether they are preventing food borne illnesses such as E Coli and Listeria, or enforcing pest control, these roles are crucial to preventing ill health.

However, we know from our previous research that these roles are often undervalued, with their contributions going unrecognised. As a result of this, many of these professions are suffering from issues recruiting new workers into their industry due to a skills shortage within the UK.

This is a major concern for public health.

Today we have published a new briefing which discusses how representatives of the industry are managing workforce shortages, and the impact that recent changes to the visa regime are having on their ability to maintain service levels.

How will changes to visa rules affect the public health workforce?

Firstly, many within the wider public health workforce will not be able to meet the new income requirement of £38,700 as it is far above the average salary band.

Secondly, the health and social care visa does not include those in the wider public health workforce, but only those working in health and social care roles. This means many crucial workers, particularly those who may not traditionally be seen as part of the health system, will not be eligible to apply for the visa.

What can we do to fill the skills and labour gap?

The current vacancy rates within the sector are not sustainable, and we need action to close them.

In the medium to long term, the government should look at how they can fill this skills gap within the UK through improved training and access to public health roles. However, on an interim basis, the Government should extend the health and care visa route to cover a wider range of health protection and public health roles, including those which may not traditionally be seen as part of the health system.

Read the full briefing here.

Join RSPH for on 9th October for Public Health 2040: Future Challenges for Public Health, a webinar discussing the future challenges facing the Public Health Workforce and how we can meet them head-on.