WHAT IS REHIS

The Royal Environmental Health Institute of Scotland is a registered Scottish charity, Number SC009406. On occasion, the Institute uses the acronym 'REHIS'.

The objects for which the Institute is established are for the benefit of the community to promote the advancement of Environmental Health by: stimulating general interest in and disseminating knowledge concerning Environmental Health; promoting education and training in matters relating to Environmental Health; and maintaining, by examination or otherwise, high standards of professional practice and conduct on the part of Environmental Health Officers in Scotland.

The objectives of the Institute are achieved in a number of ways including: holding an Annual Conference, courses and meetings at which papers are presented and professional subjects are discussed, publishing an Annual Report on Environmental Health in Scotland and

  • making representations to government departments and other bodies on environmental health matters and submitting observations on the content of proposed legislation.
  • working closely with universities and colleges on the content of courses to prepare students for their future role as qualified officers. appointing representatives to working groups and advisory bodies which are set up to report and advise on a wide range of environmental health matters
  • membership of the Institute is open to persons who are suitably qualified and who work in either the community health, environmental health or public health services or are engaged in commercial or industrial activities associated with environmental health. Elected members of local authorities, health boards and persons with an interest in environmental health are also eligible for associate membership.

The Institute has over 1,000 members of whom the majority are Environmental Health Officers, many of whom are employed by Scottish local authorities.

What is Environmental Health?
Environmental Health has been defined by in the Old Report 2006 (commissioned by REHIS) as: "Environmental health is that area of Public Health activity which strives to improve, protect & maintain health & well being through action on the physical environment and on life circumstances."

Download the attached Membership Information leaflet