In September and October 1997, the King's Fund held two seminars for the professions allied to medicine (PAMs) in order to discuss their actual and potential contribution to public health. This contribution is varied and spans the categories of input to commissioning, health promotion, clinical effectiveness and evidence-based practice, and the involvement of lay people in health issues. The report is in three parts: what PAMs do in relation to public health, obstacles and opportunities for PAMs in public health, and next steps in supporting and developing their contribution to public health.