Grant allocation, “far too little, far too late”
In spite of Directors of Public Health’s best efforts, some services have had to be cut, and this will continue to be the case.
Prof Jim McManus, ADPH President
With little over two weeks to go until the start of the financial year, today’s PH Grant announcement is, once again, far too little, far too late.
The 5% increase includes additional burdens on public health finances including having to offset the pay pressures resulting from NHS pay awards.
Public health teams have had years of effective cuts to funding, meaning that in spite of Directors of Public Health’s best efforts, some services have had to be cut, and this will continue to be the case even though there is strong evidence for their impact and effectiveness.
In order to provide public health measures that will equate to people living healthier, longer lives and reduce the burden on the NHS, we need to see a much larger increase to our budgets – today’s increase is simply not enough to make up for the years of cuts.
It costs around £3,800 in public health measures to give an additional year of good health to someone’s life. This figure is three to four times lower than the cost resulting from NHS interventions for that same additional year.
Investing more in public health to promote healthier lives and reduce the number of people suffering from preventable disease would therefore help conserve funds, freeing the NHS up to do what they do best.
Directors of Public Health remain committed to work in partnership across all sectors to implement policy and initiatives that improve their population’s health. However, in order to truly help society become more healthy – and therefore prosperous – this effort must be replicated on a national level.