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Public Health Scotland

Public Health Scotland
Public Health Agency overview
Formed1 April 2020
Preceding Public Health Agency
JurisdictionScotland
HeadquartersEdinburgh, Scotland
Employees1,100 (approx.)
Annual budget£47.9m (2020-21)
Ministers responsible
Deputy Minister responsible
Public Health Agency executive
  • Paul Johnston, Chief Executive
Websitewww.publichealthscotland.scot Edit this at Wikidata

Public Health Scotland (PHS[1]) (Scottish Gaelic: Slàinte Poblach na h-Alba) is the national public health body for Scotland.[2][3] It is a Special NHS Health Board, and it is jointly accountable to the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA) and the Scottish Government. Fully exercising its functions from 1 April 2020 as Scotland's leading national agency for improving and protecting the health and well-being of all of Scotland's people, it is jointly sponsored by COSLA and the Scottish Government, and collaborates with third sector organisations.[4]

Its role is to increase healthy life expectancy and reduce premature mortality. Areas of focus are COVID-19, mental health and well-being, community and place, and poverty and children.[5]

The board's first chief executive was Angela Leitch, formerly chief executive of East Lothian Council.[6] Paul Johnston, formerly a Director General within the Scottish Government, took over the role in 2023.


  1. ^ "Launch of new digital and data strategy for Public Health Scotland". Public Health Scotland. 28 June 2021.
  2. ^ "New national public health body 'Public Health Scotland': consultation - gov.scot". www.gov.scot. Retrieved 1 June 2021.
  3. ^ "Public Health Scotland: information notice - gov.scot". www.gov.scot. Retrieved 1 June 2021.
  4. ^ "Our vision and values". Public Health Scotland. Retrieved 6 May 2021.
  5. ^ "Our areas of work". Public Health Scotland. Retrieved 23 August 2020.
  6. ^ "Public Health Scotland first Chief Executive appointed". www.rehis.com. Retrieved 23 August 2020.

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