Councils are being kept in the dark over budgets for public health in the coming year, local government leaders have warned.
The Local Government Association (LGA) has joined several major organisations in demanding the urgent announcement of the public health allocation due to take effect in April.
They warn the Government is risking ‘avoidable and unacceptable’ harm by delaying the announcement.
A coalition including the Association of Directors of Public Health, the NHS Confederation, the Faculty of Public Health and the Royal Society for Public Health as well as the LGA are also urging ministers to increase investment in public health and prevention.
They also say they are ‘extremely concerned’ that the delay will be exacerbated by either a small increase or another flat cash settlement.
The Government has committed to ‘promising’ public health initiatives but several important strategies have been sidelined or delayed, including the health disparities and gambling reform white papers and the Khan review.
David Fothergill, chairman of the LGA’s community wellbeing board, said: ‘Councils continue to be in the dark about public health funding and this can’t go on. Residents and our communities need clarity.
‘Every pound invested by Government in council-run services such as public health helps to relieve pressure on other services like the NHS and the criminal justice system.
‘The Government needs to give councils the clarity they need so they can increase investment to protect the health of our local communities over the coming months and years and to ensure all local authorities can continue to meet their public health responsibilities into the future.’
