Wokingham Borough Council new public health duties

From April 1 public health, which works to prevent disease and prolong life, will become the responsibility of the borough council.

The public health service will be hosted in Bracknell Forest and will work across the whole of Berkshire. To lead this core group, Dr Lise Llewellyn has been appointed as strategic director for public health in Berkshire.

The new Wokingham Public Health Team has six staff which have either transferred from the NHS or been recruited by the council. They will be based within the Health and Wellbeing service at Shute End.

Wokingham Borough Council has been awarded £3.8million in funding to finance its public health duties for 2013/14, and £4.2million for the following year.

This funding is ring-fenced for public health services and will cover the costs of the borough council’s new responsibilities.