Published on: 17 December 2019
South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust has appointed a Consultant in Public Health to further its ambitions to promote healthy lifestyles, prevent disease, protect and improve general health and improve healthcare services for the local population.
Ryan Swiers will work across South Tyneside and Sunderland to help the Trust to tackle major issues such as smoking, alcohol and obesity, as well as other subjects including antimicrobial resistance, pathways of care and the health and wellbeing of the Trust’s own staff.
The Trust, along with others in the North East, is pioneering the introduction of the post of Consultant in Public Health, which in other parts of the country often sits with local authorities.
Mr Swiers has considerable experience in Public Health working with NHS Trusts, local authorities, Public Health England and NHS England on a wide range of topics including cancer surgery, health economics and health provision for 0-19-year-olds. He also spent time in Rwanda in Africa focusing on HIV prevention and he worked in a hospital in Sydney, Australia, where he focused on the health of the Aboriginal population.
He chose to specialise in Public Health because he felt it gave him the opportunity to help to influence major change for the benefit of a large number of people.
He said: “South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust covers some of the most deprived areas of the country, which presents its challenges but also offers exciting opportunities to make a real difference to the lives of local people. I am looking forward to playing a part in that.”
South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust’s Medical Director Dr Shaz Wahid said: “The NHS Long Term Plan makes it clear that the NHS must get serious about prevention and, consequently, as well as providing world-class healthcare services, our Trust is committed to reducing the current, unacceptable gaps in life expectancy for people living in different parts of South Tyneside and Sunderland. It is important to us to have our own Consultant in Public Health to help us to progress our ambitious plans regarding prevention so we are very pleased to welcome Ryan who will be invaluable as we work with our local communities to prevent ill-health in the first place, which is equally as important as treating people when they become unwell.”
