A NEW health boss has been appointed by Hampshire County Council.

Following a national search, Dr Sallie Bacon has been confirmed as Hampshire’s director of Public Health (DPH) by the local authority and Public Health England.

Dr Bacon has held the position of interim director since December 2015. She now formally replaces Dr Ruth Milton, Hampshire County Council’s first DPH subsequent to the transfer of public health responsibilities from the NHS to local government.

Commenting on the appointment, Cllr Patricia Stallard, the cabinet member for health and public health, said: “With 1.3 million residents, Hampshire’s population is becoming more diverse, getting older, living longer which is good news, but there are greater inequalities and more people experiencing lifestyle related illness.

“The role of director of public health is critical in helping to tackle these issues, and I am delighted that we are able to confirm the appointment of Dr Bacon whose skill and expertise has been so evident during her time with the county council.”

Dr Bacon’s new role leads work to improve and protect the health and wellbeing of Hampshire residents by understanding why some people are healthy and others less so, and how to enable people to choose a healthy lifestyle. This will include advising on a range of health issues from outbreaks of disease and ensuring the county is prepared for health emergencies, through to how to address the factors that lead to poor health working closely with NHS as well as county council colleagues.

The role is also shaped by local needs and priorities, and Dr Bacon has overseen the recent launch of a new five year public health plan – Towards a healthier Hampshire – which sets out the Local Authority’s public health priorities for the next few years.

Dr Bacon joined the County Council in 2013 as associate director of public health when responsibility for the county’s public health passed to Hampshire County Council from NHS Hampshire. She held the position of associate director at the latter from 2011.

Prior to that, Dr Bacon was a consultant in Public Health at NHS Berkshire. She has worked as a GP, as well as in A&E, Paediatrics and Gynaecology in Nottingham and London.