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The Public Health Division comprises the following teams:
- Healthcare Public Health
- Health Protection & Immunisation
- Health Intelligence & Information Services
- Information Governance
- Public Health Improvement
- Information Technology (IT)
- Administration Support
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Healthcare Public Health
The service works to the three key areas of planning, procuring and monitoring health care services, underpinned by health needs assessment, health technology assessment, service design/re-design, quality improvement and assurance, and evaluation.
It takes advantage of new technologies and use digital techniques and ‘big data’ to protect and improve health, analysing and presenting our information in a way that people can readily engage with. Examples of Healthcare Public Health function is to:
- appraise the evidence to support the development of clinical prioritisation policies at individual and population level
- identifying vulnerable populations and local health inequalities and advising on commissioning to meet their health needs
- providing specialist input into the development of evidence based care pathways and quality indicators to improve patient experience.
Contact:
Email: wi.publichealth@nhs.scot
Tel. 01851 708033
Health Protection & Immunisation
The team provides advice, support and information to health professionals, the general public and other bodies that play a part in protecting the public’s health. The team are responsible for:
- implementing communicable disease control programmes
- management of infectious and non-infectious hazards to health
- prevention, investigation and control of communicable and notifiable diseases and environmental health risks.
As well as local issues, NHS Western Isles links closely with Health Protection Scotland, keeping informed on national and international situations such as COVID-19, Pandemic Flu, E. coli 0157, Meningitis, Ebola, and Zika virus. The team also lead the Public Health input into the NHS Western Isles’ immunisation and screening programmes.
Contact:
Email: wi.healthprotection@nhs.scot
Tel. 01851 708033
Health Intelligence & Information Services
Its role is to provide information, public health intelligence and information management services for NHS Western Isles to support its public health surveillance and strategic planning role for healthcare provision to the resident population of the Western Isles.
Additionally, to provide an information and analysis service to the operational divisions of the organisation including the Hospital Services and Community Services divisions. The team also oversees research and innovation activity for the organisation via research governance, support for research activity and participation in a number of international innovation collaborations.
Contact:
Email: wi.healthintelligence@nhs.scot
Tel. 01851 704704
Information Governance
Information Governance ensures necessary safeguards for, and appropriate use of personal information, including but not limited to patient/client/service user information; staff information and sensitive organisational information.
Effective information governance practice is a feature of high quality health services in NHS Scotland. By ensuring that information is obtained, held, used and shared securely and appropriately, it underpins professional and patient confidence in services. For further information click here.
Contact:
Email: wi.dpo@nhs.scot
Tel. 01851 708031
Public Health Improvement
The team works to help and empower people, groups and communities to make improved lifestyle choices, in order to better their health and quality of life.
The service also works in partnership with a range of local and national groups and agencies to address wider issues that impact on health eg. poverty, housing, or the effects of unemployment.
Contact:
Email: wi.publichealth@nhs.scot
Tel. 01851 708033
Information Technology (IT)
The IT service is an internal service only, providing crucial support for NHS Western Isles' technology, including helpdesk services, system maintenance, and the management of digital infrastructure to ensure patient care and administrative functions run smoothly.
They are also responsible for developing and implementing new technology, managing digital security, and overseeing the introduction of new IT services.
Contact:
Staff to use Intranet eTicket system
Tel. 01851 704704
Administration Support
The team ensures local public health services run efficiently and smoothly every day. It provides business support to staff and teams to arrange and record meetings, create documents, coordinate finance systems, and maintain records.
Contact:
Email: wi.publichealth@nhs.scot
Tel. 01851 708033
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- LAST REVIEWED ON: November 25, 2025