Director of Public Health to leave Bury

Bury’s Director of Public Health, Dr Peter Elton, will step down at the end of August to become clinical director of the clinical strategic network for Greater Manchester, Lancashire and South Cumbria.

Dr Peter Elton has held the DPH role since 2002, but his career in public health spans 36 years.

He managed community services in North Manchester for a number of years and has authored many public health related research papers. He was also the lead of the Regional Offender Health Team until recently which included commissioning of health provision in police custody. He has also spent more than 25 years chairing Outreach, a local voluntary organisation for learning disabilities and chronic mental illness, and has a special interest in cardiovascular disease and smoking.

During his time in Bury his achievements include introducing smoke-free schools years before the ban on smoking in public places, driving forward the development of hyperacute stroke services which has helped to reduce the in-hospital mortality from 22% to 17% and running the national HPV vaccine (to prevent cervical cancer) pilot.

Dr Elton (aged 61) lives locally, and is married with two grown-up children. He said: “It has been a privilege to have spent my working life trying to influence policies that improve health. I have seen some amazing changes such as the halving of smoking rates during my career. It has been great to see such improvements.”

Stuart North, Chief Officer for NHS Bury Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), said: “Peter has dedicated more than a decade to improving health and wellbeing in Bury. During his time in Bury, Peter and his public health team have had many achievements to be proud of. He will be a difficult act to follow. I’m sure my colleagues will join me in bidding Peter a fond farewell, and we wish him well in his future endeavours.”

The role of director of public health recently became part of Bury Council but there is a continuing responsibility to advise the Clinical Commissioning Group on health policy.

Councillor Rishi Shori, cabinet member for adult care, health and housing, said: “I would like to thank Peter for his work on the transition of the Public Health function from the former Primary Care Trust to the local authority. Peter has had a long and distinguished career in Bury working tirelessly with great success to improve the health of Bury residents. I wish him success in his new role."

ENDS

Press release issued: 30 July 2013.

Picture attached: Dr Peter Elton.