Public health is more than a medical concern. For real, sustainable improvements across social scales, collaboration must be facilitated between local authorities, healthcare services, communities, social services, police, housing authorities, employers, and other public, private and third sector groups.

Next year will mark the legislated dawn of a new devolved public healthcare system, with a clear focus on people, places and empowerment. The Healthy Lives, Healthy People update called for local authorities to develop 'holistic approaches to improve health and wellbeing' when public health powers are shifted to them in April 2013, with the executive agency Public Health England also becoming active at this time. Now, as we move closer from policy to practice, we must consider exactly what these approaches should be.

Public Health: an update and way forward is the fifth in our successful series of public health events. Our panel of high-profile speakers will furnish delegates with the latest developments and look forward to how the reorganised service will be practically applied to improve outcomes for all.