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Publication - Progress report

Scottish allied health professions public health strategic framework implementation plan: 2022 to 2027 midway report

Published
23 December 2025
From
Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care, +13 more … Chief Allied Health Professions Officer, Chief Executive of NHS Scotland and Director-General Health and Social Care, Chief Medical Officer, Chief Midwifery Officer, Chief Nursing Officer, Chief Operating Officer of NHS Scotland, Director of Digital Health and Care, Director of Health Workforce, Director of Mental Health, Director of Primary Care, Director of Social Care and National Care Service Development, Minister for Public Health and Women's Health, Minister for Social Care and Mental Wellbeing
Directorate
Chief Nursing Officer Directorate, +8 more … Chief Medical Officer Directorate, Chief Operating Officer, NHS Scotland Directorate, Digital Health and Care Directorate, Health and Social Care Finance Directorate, Health Workforce Directorate, Mental Health Directorate, Population Health Directorate, Social Care and National Care Service Development
Topic
Health and social care
ISBN
9781806435814

Midway progress report on Scotland’s Allied Health Professions Public Health Strategic Framework (2022–2027). It showcases achievements in workforce development, leadership, and wellbeing, driving prevention and reducing health inequalities across communities.

View supporting documents Supporting documents

Strategic Goal 4: Strategic Connections and Leadership

Our fourth strategic goal is to strengthen strategic relationships between AHPs and system leaders at both local and national levels, ensuring AHPs are fully utilised to improve public health and reduce inequalities.

Key outcomes include:

  • AHPs possess leadership skills to articulate their public health contribution.
  • AHPs have strong connections with system leaders to influence population health.

To achieve this, AHPs must work within whole-system approaches, ensuring developments are integrated across health and social care. Many Boards already demonstrate this through embedded relationships between AHP and Public Health teams.

At the national level, AHP Directors (AHPDs) lead on public health workstreams, such as NHS Grampian and NHS Forth Valley’s involvement in the PHACT Prevention of Fracture of Neck of Femur Programme Board. Strategic connections are being strengthened through Public Health Scotland’s representation on the National AHP Implementation Group and the inclusion of AHP roles within the NES team.

This has led to the creation of a national Community of Practice, supporting knowledge exchange across sectors. A dedicated Public Health (Early Intervention and Prevention) Network within the NES AHP CYP Community of Practice has hosted webinars and showcase events to support implementation.

Leadership development is further supported by Leading to Change, a Scottish Government programme replacing Project Lift, which nurtures talent aligned with national workforce strategies and care reform. Boards also offer leadership programmes, such as the Scottish Ambulance Service’s accredited Foundation and Aspiring Leaders programmes.

The AHP Academic Heads Group, comprising all Scottish HEIs offering AHP education, meets regularly to discuss public health implementation, share best practice, and address challenges in education delivery.

These examples highlight the depth of strategic connections and leadership already in place. Building on this strong foundation will ensure AHPs continue to be recognised for their expertise and leadership in delivering public health priorities.

Contact

Email: cno@gov.scot

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