Public health continues to pose ideological, economic and moral dilemmas for policy makers. For example, how involved should health care practitioners become in ensuring the absence of illness or promoting wellbeing? To what extent should health be a matter of state, rather than individual, responsibility? In this new edition of a highly regarded text, Rob Baggott visits the contemporary debate surrounding public health, exploring the many facets of health improvement and promotion within their historical, socioeconomic and political contexts. Both timely and engaging, the book: a- examines the successes and limitations of current health strategy and public health campaigns a- assesses the impact of factors such as lifestyle, environment and socioeconomic inequality on public health a- investigates international dimensions and global issues including environmental health, climate change and world poverty a- evaluates the past 13 years of Labour policy and considers the future under a coalition government.Heavily revised to incorporate the latest British, European and international developments, Public Health explores the ever-changing political environment and policy processes that frame current approaches. Now providing detailed analysis of regional diversity within UK policy, this text is core reading for all those with interests in health, social and welfare policy, the development of the NHS and the voluntary sector and the essentials of contemporary public health.