The Royal College of Physicians has appointed consultant public
health physician Dr Chris Packham as special adviser on
population health.
Dr Packham, an associate medical director at Nottinghamshire
Healthcare NHS trust, practising inner city GP and former
director of public health in Nottingham, has a special interest
in designing and prioritising health and care pathways,
supporting clinical involvement at a local level to improve
population health, and reducing health inequalities.
In his new role, he will inform the RCP's work to campaign for
tackling the social determinants which contribute to poor health
and health outcomes in the UK, reducing health inequalities
across populations, including by enhanced access and uptake of
effective health and care services.
Dr Packham commences in the role from Friday 07/02/25, as
Professor Carol Brayne CBE
demits after three years in the role.
Dr Chris Packham, RCP's population health special
adviser, said:
“As I begin my new role, I look forward to building on the RCP's
excellent work, led by Professor Brayne, including calling on the
government to deliver a comprehensive cross-government strategy
to reduce health inequalities, supporting physicians with the
tools and knowledge they need to play their part in improving
population health, and harnessing the expertise of our members to
drive meaningful change for patients and communities across the
UK.”
In December 2024, the RCP published guidance to
help clinicians and NHS organisations embed action on health
inequalities within their work. This guidance offers practical
steps for making health equity a strategic priority, ensuring
healthcare can contribute to reducing inequalities rather than
reinforcing them.
A member of the RCP's Health Inequalities Advisory Group since
2021, Dr Packham has been involved in the work the college has
done to support national policy approaches that address the wider
determinants of health. The RCP has long called for a full
government approach to reduce health inequalities, emphasising
that responsibility must be shared across all government
departments, not just the Department of Health and Social
Care.
Health inequalities remain stark across the country. For example,
boys born in Blackpool can expect just 53.3 years of healthy
life, compared to 71.9 years for those born in
Richmond-upon-Thames – a shocking disparity of 18.6 years.
Physicians across the NHS see the consequences of these
inequalities daily. In 2023, RCP polling found that over half
(55%) of consultant physicians had seen an increase in ill health
due to social and economic factors, with almost a quarter (24%)
reporting that the majority of their workload was related to
illnesses linked to social determinants.
Dr Packham added:
“Much of the government's response has focused on the immediate
pressures facing the NHS. However, we must also address the
broader factors that contribute to these challenges. Population
health looks beyond the individual to identify patterns and
develop strategies that improve health outcomes for entire
communities.
“Approximately 80-90% of the factors that influence public health
lie outside the healthcare system – including housing, education,
employment, poverty, access to green spaces, and air
quality.
“The recently announced 10-Year Health Plan emphasises shifting
care from hospitals to communities, embracing digital
transformation, and focusing on prevention. Achieving these goals
requires a fundamental shift in how we tackle ill health at a
population level – a change that is long overdue.”
