Dr John Middleton looks at the vital role councils will have as a result of the impending white paper ‘shake-up' on public health.

Next week the Government is expected to publish its public health white paper, which returns the responsibility and function to local authorities. Most public health bodies, including mine, the UK Faculty of Public Health, have welcomed this return to provenance. Many of us have argued for a long time that it isn't who your doctor is, it's who you vote for, that most affects your health – locally and nationally.