The importance of the past in public health
- Correspondence to: Dr G Scally Regional Public Health Group, Government Office for the South West, 2 Rivergate, Temple Quay, Bristol BS1 6ED, UK; gscally.goswgo-regions.gsi.gov.uk
- Accepted 16 October 2003
Abstract
Study objective: To explore the role of history in public health and its relevance to current practice and professional development.
Design: An analysis of the issues surrounding the poor attention paid to the history of public health by its current practitioners.
Setting: The paper is written from the perspective of practitioners in the UK but has wide applicability.
Main results: The paper makes the case that the current neglect of public health history is to the detriment of public health practice.
Conclusions: There is a strong case for more attention to be paid to public health history in professional formation, development, and communication.
Footnotes
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Funding: none.
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Conflicts of interest: none declared.
