New interim Director of Public Health for Plymouth appointed

Professor Stephen Horsley is the new interim Director of Public Health for Plymouth.

He has been in Northamptonshire for the past seven years as Director for Public Health and brings with him a wealth of experience.

The responsibility for the health of Plymouth’s communities formally transferred from the NHS to Plymouth City Council in April.

Stephen is a physician with more than 35 years’ experience of public health practice and leadership in the public sector and in university organisations. He has managed large scale public health programmes, developed policy and led the response to public health emergencies and disease outbreaks.

Stephen said: “I’m delighted to be coming to Plymouth to take on this role for an interim period and I look forward to working with the team in the Office of the Director of Public Health.”

Cabinet member for Public Health and Adult Social Care Councillor Sue McDonald: “I’m very pleased to welcome Stephen to our public health team. Their work is hugely important, public health has such an impact on people’s lives and its return to local authority control earlier this year is an opportunity for us to better join up the way we work in the city and really make a difference in reducing health inequalities and improving the health and wellbeing of people in Plymouth.”

Stephen will be Plymouth’s interim Director of Public Health while the formal recruitment process is carried out for a permanent appointment.