International Health
A focal point for international networking, evidence synthesis, sharing learning and expertise across Wales and the world, strengthening our national and public health role in Europe and globally.
The International Health Team focuses on maximising applied learning from international policy, practice and research to support public health innovation; developing globally responsible people and organisations across the NHS; facilitating international collaboration and investment in Wales; and strengthening Wales’ global health impact through sharing our assets and contributing to global health security and sustainable development.
We work closely with key stakeholders across Wales and the UK, such as the Welsh Government, the Welsh Local Government Association, the Wales for Africa Programme, the Faculty of Public Health, and others; as well as with international partners, such as the World Health Organization (WHO), the International Association of National Public Health Institutes (IANPHI), EuroHealthNet and others.
International Health Team
We focus on maximising learning from international policy, practice and research to support public health innovation, developing synergies and enhancing opportunities towards creating globally responsible, outward looking people and organisations across the NHS.
International Health Coordination Centre (IHCC)
The International Health Coordination Centre (IHCC) is a unique whole-of-Wales programme of work, bringing together all Health Boards and NHS Trusts. It promotes and facilitates international health partnerships, serving as a focal point for information sharing, knowledge exchange, collaboration and networking across the UK, Europe and the world.
Behavioural Science Unit
The BeSci Unit provides specialist expertise on behavioural science, and champions and enables the increasingly routine application of it, to improve and protect health and wellbeing, and reduce health inequities in Wales. The Unit supports stakeholders in the wider public health system, to deliver a step change in improving health and wellbeing outcomes.
Public Health Policy Division
Supporting the development, implementation and evaluation of policies in Wales in order to improve health and reduce inequalities.
We aim to influence and inform policy at a national and local level, working closely with colleagues across Public Health Wales and other stakeholder organisations to achieve our goals. The Division consists of the Policy Team, Wales Health Impact Assessment Support Unit, and the Health and Sustainability Hub.
Polisi
The Polisi team generates, synthesises, and effectively communicates action-orientated, evidence-informed insight. We use this to advocate for policy making that protects and promotes the health and well-being of everyone in Wales, now and for future generations. We also provide essential support and expertise to colleagues across the directorate and Public Health Wales on policy advocacy and responding to policy consultations.
Wales Health Impact Assessment Support Unit (WHIASU)
The Wales Health Impact Assessment Support Unit (WHIASU) provide an all-Wales service and provides guidance, training, resources, information and networking in relation to the practice of Health Impact Assessment (HIA).
Health and Sustainability Hub
The Health and Sustainability Hub supports PHW to embed sustainability and respond to the climate and nature emergencies. We champion the Well-being of Future Generations Act and Environment Act and support PHW strategy priority “Tackling the public health effects of climate change”.
Hosted Teams
The WHO CC Directorate hosts a number of collaborative programmes, each working together with external partners to secure a happier and healthier Wales. These include the ACE Support Hub, Early Action Together Programme and the Violence Prevention Unit, who have a shared ambition and vision for Wales to become an ACE aware, trauma informed nation.
These programmes use research and development, knowledge and intelligence to take a public health approach to trauma informed policy and practice and to build more resilient communities in Wales.
Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) Hub
ACE Hub Wales was founded in 2017 and was set up to support Welsh Society to help create an Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) Aware Wales and make Wales a leader in tackling, preventing and mitigating ACEs. We promote the sharing of ideas and learning, and to challenge and change ways of working, so together we can break the cycle of ACEs. ACE Hub Wales is funded by Welsh Government and is hosted by Public Health Wales.
Wales Violence Prevention Unit (VPU)
Established in 2019, the Wales Violence Prevention Unit is a partnership between Public Health Wales, the South Wales Police and Crime Commissioner and South Wales Police. Each organisation contributes funding and expertise to support a whole-system, public health approach to preventing violence, working closely with sectors including health, policing, education, local authorities, governments and the third sector.
Public Health Collaborating Unit
Established in 2017 and based in Bangor University’s School of Health Sciences, the PHCU provides a flexible and efficient resource for rapid assessment, evaluation and policy and service development support to Policy and International Health, the WHO CC and, through the Centre, Public Health Wales and the wider NHS.