Cumbria's Director of Public Health steps down from his role (From The Westmorland Gazette)

Cumbria's Director of Public Health steps down from his role

5:09pm Monday 21st January 2013 in News

CUMBRIA’S Director of Public Health is stepping down from his role after being elected to lead the UK Faculty for Public Health (FPH) of the Royal Colleges of Physicians.

Professor John Ashton, who has been in Cumbria for seven years, has been elected the new President of the FPH for three years.

The FPH sets the standards for specialists in public health across the UK and has 3,000 members drawn from a range of clinical, academic and other public health backgrounds. It has an important role in advocacy for public health.

Dr Rebecca Wagstaff, Cumbria’s Deputy Director of Public Health, will become the county’s interim public health director.

Her new role will involve completing the transfer of local public health responsibilities and staff to Cumbria County Council as part of wider NHS reforms which will see primary care trusts abolished at the end of March.

Ian Gordon, Chair of NHS Cumbria, said: “John has been a tremendous leader and advocate for better health in Cumbria.

“Through some of Cumbria’s darkest days, from the terrible floods of 2009 to the appalling shootings in West Cumbria, he has demonstrated great leadership and experience.

Professor John Ashton, who was awarded the CBE for outstanding service to the NHS, said: “I am very honoured to have been elected by my peers to this national position.

“Advancing the cause of public health is something I have dedicated my life to, and I am looking forward to supporting public health consultants and specialists across the UK over the next three years.”