William Eichler 25 October 2019

Councils chiefs call for more sexual health funding

Local authority leaders have called on the Government to ensure that its updated sexual and reproductive health strategy is ‘fully funded’.

The Government has agreed to the recommendation of the Health and Social Care Committee that a new public health strategy should be developed by Public Health England and other stakeholders.

Whitehall reiterated its belief, laid out in the Green Paper consultation ‘Advancing Our Health - Prevention in the 2020s’, that responsibility for sexual health services should remain with councils.

However, its response to the committee also made it clear that local authorities would not receive any extra funding to support an updated strategy.

‘In September the chancellor announced the Spending Round outcome for the next financial year,’ it read.

‘It was a strong overall settlement for local government including an increase in the level of funding for the public health grant.

‘Local authorities themselves remain responsible for deciding their local health priorities and allocating their resources accordingly.’

In response, Cllr Ian Hudspeth, chairman of the LGA’s Community Wellbeing Board, said that he was ‘pleased’ that the Government was updating its sexual health strategy, but he stressed that it should be ‘fully funded’.

‘We are pleased that the Government has accepted our calls for a sexual and reproductive health strategy. It is important that the strategy is owned by all stakeholders who have a responsibility to make it successful,’ he said.

‘The recent decision that sexual health services should remain the responsibility of local authorities was positive. The strategy now presents the opportunity to set out a clear framework for how the co-commissioning of sexual health services will work.

‘Councils invest more than £600m a year in sexual health services, but rising demand is continuing to push some councils’ sexual health services to capacity. It is therefore essential that the strategy is fully funded.’

The £37,000 SEND Problem image

The £37,000 SEND Problem

Natalie Kenneison, COO at Imosphere, argues that the real SEND funding crisis isn’t just about budgets - it’s about the systems behind the decisions.
SIGN UP
For your free daily news bulletin
Highways jobs

Makaton Tutor - Part Time / Term Time

Essex County Council
£25821.00 - £30377.00 per annum + + Pension
Makaton Tutor - Part Time / Term TimePermanent, Part Time£30,377 per annum, full time equivalent / equal to £15.74 per hour.Location
Recuriter: Essex County Council

Assistant Urban Design Intern

Essex County Council
Up to £25081.00 per annum + + 26 Days Leave & Local Gov Pension
Assistant Urban Design InternFixed Term, Full Time£25,081 per annumLocation
Recuriter: Essex County Council

Wellbeing and Independence Practitioner - Safeguarding Team

Essex County Council
£31931.00 - £36423.00 per annum + + 26 Days Leave & Local Gov Pension
Wellbeing and Independence Practitioner - ASC Centralised Safeguarding TeamFixed Term, Full Time£31,931 to £36,423 per annumLocation
Recuriter: Essex County Council

Financial Strategy Manager (Revenue)

The Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea Council
Negotiable
Bring clarity to complex decisions and help shape how we invest in our borough's future.Bring clarity to complex decisions and help shape how we inves England, London
Recuriter: The Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea Council

Team Manager - Locality

Wakefield Council
£55,979.00, Grade 13
Wakefield Children’s Services have been rated by Ofsted as GOOD with outstanding leadership. Wakefield, West Yorkshire
Recuriter: Wakefield Council
Linkedin Banner