Following extensive discussion within the Public Health Directorate and with stakeholders it was agreed in 2007 that a Health Service Team should be established within the Public Health Directorate whose primary remit would be to support health service planning and delivery. In early 2008 the Team began work. The individual members have been drawn from a range of public health practice and bring to the Team specialist skills relating to epidemiology, evidence-based practice, and evaluation. The Team also encompasses a range of expertise and knowledge relating to specific diseases and life-stages.