A £200 million funding package is set to benefit public health services, and is set to boost addiction recovery services, sexual health clinics, and local nurses, among other incentives.
Announced today (7th February), the investment is part of the government’s plan to shift healthcare away from secondary care and into the community, in a move to take pressure off of emergency services and hospitals. This is a key factor of the government’s Plan for Change.
This new funding will power essential services such as smoking cessation programmes, addiction recovery, family and school nurses, sexual health clinics, local health protection services and public health support for local NHS services. This investment is the biggest real-terms increase in spending after nearly a decade of austerity and budget cuts from 2016-2024.
Funding for public health grants will be increased by a 5.4 per cent in cash (three per cent in real terms) compared to last year’s funding. This investment will focus on prevention and community care, building stronger, healthier communities more resistant to illness nationwide.
Minister for public health and prevention, Andrews Gwynne, said: “Lord Darzi’s investigation into the NHS has found that children are sicker today than a decade ago, and adults are falling into ill-health earlier in life.
“Prevention is better than cure. If we can reach people earlier and help them stay healthy, this extra investment will pay for itself several times over in reduced demand on the NHS and by keeping people in work.
“Whether it’s supporting people to quit smoking, giving children a healthy start to life, or providing addiction recovery services, this investment as part of the government’s Plan for Change will make a real difference in communities across the country.
“After a decade of cuts to public health, this government is committed to shifting the focus of healthcare from sickness to prevention, and we’re putting our money where our mouth is.”
Saffron Cordery, interim chief executive, NHS Providers, said: "Any extra investment in public health services is welcome especially when many local councils are under huge financial pressure.
"Local services are vital to delivering the government's shift to prevention, promoting healthier lives, tackling deep-rooted health inequalities and easing pressure on a stretched NHS.
"But after many years of underinvestment and cuts there is a lot more to do to boost the nation's physical and mental health. A healthy economy and greater productivity rely on a healthy population.
"As the government seeks more economic growth, NHS trust leaders want to work hand in hand with it and councils to create the picture of national health we all want to see."
