The number of public health teams that believe the move into local authorities has had a positive result for health outcomes, has more than doubled in the past year.
In a new report, published by the Royal Society for Public Health (RSPH), 40% of public health teams said the transfer to local authorities was leading improvements in the sector; up from 15% in 2014.
However, the audit also shows that some areas remian a cause for concern, with over half saying they were unable to feel positive about the integration of health and social care.
A third of respondents also said they were worried about the impact political decisions were having on healthcare decisions, with 47% also saying they thought knowledge of public health in local authorities was poor.
Shirley Cramer, chief executive of RSPH said: 'Our findings show that embedding public health within local authorities has given cause for optimism. There appears to be greater belief that this move will lead to better health outcomes, and public health is working well with other departments.
'However, we would also temper this optimism with concerns that politics and financial constraints are continuing to interfere in decision making to improve the public's health.'
Ms Cramer added that it was important public health was not 'siloed' but encampassed the wider work of local authorities.