A HIVE OF ACTIVITY - THE FUTURE OF PUBLIC-HEALTH

In consultation with primary and secondary care, public health has a c rucial role in improving the health of the population through health p romotion, advice on appropriateness and effectiveness of services and communicable disease control. The speciality of public health medicine can only achieve this goal if it is allowed a degree of stability aft er the numerous organisational changes of the last two decades. The 'b eehive model' of public health may offer an organisational structure t hat is adaptable to further health service change, reflects the rise i n multidisciplinary working, guarantees freedom of speech and is susta inable within existing manpower numbers.