Power, polluters and public health – inside the world of a Director of Public Health

This month we’re joined by Peter Roderick, Director of Public Health for the City of York, for a wide-ranging conversation on what the job really involves – from advocating for marginalised communities to steering a local system through political change. We dig into the rise of the ‘commercial determinants of health’ agenda, why the alcohol, gambling and food industries increasingly find themselves in public health’s sights, and the difficult question of whether ‘polluter pays’ levies genuinely reduce harm or simply buy industries a licence to keep causing it. We also look ahead to how the new Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s devolution agenda could reshape public health at a local level. “We’re a highly centralised county, and the more people feel involved and close to decisions made about them, the better it is for coherence of society but also health.” This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit instalcstud.substack.com