Bury welcomes new director of public health

Lesley Jones has been appointed the new interim director of public health in Bury.

She will play a key role in a range of health issues and campaigns, from smoking cessation and alcohol use to obesity and under-age pregnancy.

Lesley is originally from Formby, Merseyside and now lives near Edgworth.  She has three teenage children.

She gained a B.Sc. in Human Ecology at Huddersfield, which included a one-year placement with the Welsh heart disease prevention programme “Heartbeat Wales”. She also has an M.Sc. in Health Education from the University of South Bank, London, and a Prof Dip in Management Studies from the Open University.

Lesley’s background in health improvement began with East Dyfed Health Authority, followed by East Berkshire HA.

She moved to Bolton in 1993 as senior health promotion officer (coronary heart disease prevention, becoming health promotion manager and consultant in public health, and in 2010 deputy director of public health.

Lesley (aged 48) has now been seconded from Bolton to Bury for a 12-month period. She takes over from Dr Peter Elton, who stepped down as Bury’s director of public health in August.

Lesley said: “I am passionate about improving the health of the population and reducing inequalities, by working with partners from across public, private, community and voluntary sectors and fostering conditions which enable people to live healthily and enjoy a good quality of life.

“I’m very excited to have come to Bury.  It’s extremely friendly and I have enjoyed a very warm welcome.  I’m confident we can work together to make a difference even in these difficult financial times.”

Councillor Rishi Shori, cabinet member for adult care, health and housing, said: “I am delighted to welcome Lesley to her new post in Bury, and look forward to working with her on many important health initiatives over the coming months.”

ENDS

Press release issued: 8 November 2013.

Picture attached: Lesley Jones, interim director of public health.