Two new directorates of Public Health Wales are formally up and running from today (1 April).
Following several months of preparation, both the Knowledge Directorate and World Health Organization Collaborating Centre are now part of the organisational structure.
Led by Transition Director Sian Bolton, the Knowledge Directorate will comprise the Research and Evaluation and Health Intelligence divisions - including the Welsh Cancer Intelligence Surveillance Unit, Child Death Review Team, Child Measurement Programme, Congenital Anomaly Register, Knowledge Mobilisation, the Evidence Service and Observatory Analytical Team.
Sian Bolton said:
“The new Knowledge Directorate is the start of an exciting journey. The world of technology, information and data grows daily and we need to make sure that we embrace this and work across sectors and with different partners.
“Research and evaluation, and the data produced by our Health Intelligence Division, are both absolutely critical to the delivery of our Long Term Strategy and Strategic Priorities.”
The WHO Collaborating Centre will now operate as a directorate and includes the Policy and International Health divisions and the Public Health Collaborating Unit at Bangor University.
Professor Mark Bellis, who will continue to sit on the Executive Team and attend Board, will lead the new directorate.
Professor Bellis said:
“Becoming a WHO Collaborating Centre allows us to build upon the years of successful work we have already undertaken with the Word Health Organization."
“Working with world leading experts in the WHO, and throughout their international networks, will help us understand which public health policies and interventions work best for the people of Wales and for those in other nations around the world.
“Wales is already a global leader in public health policy. We are looking forward to sharing what we have learned and to learning from others about how to make Wales an even better place to live, work and raise a family.”