New technology and Artificial Intelligence (AI) has already had a profound impact on the UK, and offers new opportunities to improve the delivery of public health.

However, these developments also pose potential threats to the wider public health workforce, who are key to ensuring a healthy population. They are uniquely placed to help manage these changes to the public’s health and will be essential in navigating and utilising new technological developments.

Following on from our report on unlocking the potential of the workforce, we have published the third of our topical briefings (following on from our first briefing on climate change) looking at the future needs of the workforce to ensure that they have the capacity, skills, resources and support needed to protect the public from the impact of new threats on their health.

Who are the wider public health workforce?

The wider public health workforce includes any individual who is not a specialist or practitioner in public health but has the opportunity or ability to positively impact health and wellbeing through their work.

How do they feel about AI?

The majority of workforces welcome the idea of new technologies that can complement their work and allow them to devote more time to areas that require human interventions.

However, some are worried about the misuse of AI, and the threats it might pose to their jobs. They need proper training and assurance that these new technologies will be well-regulated. 

How can we use AI appropriately in public health?

We must ensure that the workforce receives support to utilise the benefits of new technologies and AI to effectively and efficiently deliver public health services to the population. This should include further training, upskilling, expertise, recruitment and investments.

The Government should publish a comprehensive workforce strategy, setting out how current and future staff will be supported to develop their careers and make the most of new technologies. Industry must also include the wider public health workforce in the design of any new products with the potential to boost public health.

Ahead of Public Health Workforce Week (7-11 October), we will be publishing a further briefing on how the workforce is responding to the potential impacts of an ageing society.

Read the full technology and AI briefing here.