Public health chiefs welcome grant allocation

Public health chiefs have welcomed the 5.4% increase in the Public Health Grant, announced by the Government today.

Greg Fell, President of the Association of Directors of Public Health, said:  

“After a decade of real term cuts, today’s increase is very welcome and is a clear indication that the Government is serious about the need to invest in prevention and build stronger, healthier communities.”  

The grant, which pays for a wide range of locally delivered services including healthy weight and sexual health services, tobacco, drug and alcohol services, a wide range of services in the local voluntary sector, and early years provision, has been consistently cut since 2015/16. During the same period, there has been a dramatic rise in demand for services and levels of largely preventable ill health. 

Mr Fell, who is also Director of Public Health for Sheffield, continued:  

“The increase announced today will help ease the recent extra burdens placed on the grant, such as the impact of NHS pay settlements and employers’ National Insurance Contributions and allow us to focus on meeting the needs of local residents.”  

Lucy Hubber, Chair of ADPH’s funding advisory group and Director of Public Health for Nottingham City, said:  

“To create a healthy society public health teams need to have enough money to be able to implement measures and services that will support their residents to live healthier lives. Today’s announcement is a definite step in the right direction. In order to address the long-standing health challenges faced by our communities, the Government should commit to long-term, consistent funding that can bring about real improvement to the nation’s health.”