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We very much support the findings of this article: the UK Faculty of Public Health agrees that staying in the EU is the best option for maintaining and improving our health and wellbeing. Our colleagues at the Royal College of Physicians, the Royal Society of Public Health and Royal College of GPs have issued similarly supportive statements this week.

Just as our economy and society have become international, so have the threats to our health. Pandemics like ‘flu, or water and airborne diseases and pollution, do not respect border controls. Our food and economic security, as well as the impact of climate change, cannot be controlled from within the UK alone.

“The UK has a strong leadership role for public health in Europe, for example on resistance to antibiotics. We all benefit from a pan-European approach to such a vital issue. Our analysis is that is better for the UK to remain a team player within Europe, where we benefit from shared intelligence, response and action.

FPH’s report on this matter is available via http://bit.ly/EU-FPH-PR


John Middleton, incoming President, Faculty of Public Health