Public health budget ring-fenced
pharmafile | January 11, 2013 | News story | Sales and Marketing | Hunt, NHS, government
Local authorities are to receive a total of £5.45 billion from the government over the next two years to spend on public health.
The ring-fenced amount is allocated from April, when local authorities take over responsibility for improving the health of, and preventing illness in, people in their area.
The figures break down as £2.66 billion to be spent in 2013-14 and £2.79 billion in 2014-15, and the government insists that every local authority will receive a real terms increase in funding.
The Department of Health says this represents average growth of 5.5% next year and 5% the year after.
Social care, transport, housing, planning and environment are all closely bound up with issues of health, and these budgets are designed to be used in all these areas if local teams deem it appropriate.
And for the first time, funding is to be targeted specifically at areas with poor health outcomes: for example, Richmond upon Thames will receive £40 per head of population in the next financial year, whereas Blackpool gets £123 per head.
This change in emphasis follows advice from the Advisory Committee on Resource Allocation, and the government suggests that the two-year budget cycle will give local authorities a clearer idea of how much money they have to spend.
“Too many people die too early from diseases that can be prevented,” says health secretary Jeremy Hunt.
“By putting local authorities in charge of public health, we are giving them the power, freedom and the funding to tackle the issues that blight their local areas and help improve the lives of their local communities,” he concluded.
The new emphasis chimes with current thinking on giving more health and social care in local settings, helping people to manage long-term conditions or providing council help with things like washing or dressing, and warm housing.
Chronic diseases are the leading cause of death and disability in most of the world, accounting for an estimated 75% of global healthcare spend.
“We welcome this investment and look forward to working alongside local government as they take on their new leadership responsibilities for health and wellbeing,” said Duncan Selbie, chief executive designate of Public Health England.
Adam Hill
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