William Eichler 16 September 2019

Cuts force councils to slash public health funding by £72m

Local authorities plan to cut public health spending by £72m this year in response to reductions in Whitehall funding, the Labour Party says.

An analysis by the main opposition party has shown that 82% of English councils plan to slash spending on vital services in 2019/20.

Drug and alcohol treatment services have been hit the hardest with planned reductions across the board by £27.1m.

This includes £2m of cuts to specialist drug and alcohol misuse services for children and young people.

The figures, published by the Department for Communities and Local Government, also show that planned council spend on sexual health services will be cut by £14.5m.

Spending on obesity services for adults and smoking cessation services will be cut by £1.4m and £4.9m respectively.

‘When drug deaths have hit a record high, and obesity and some STI rates increasing, it is unconscionable that vital public health services are still being cut to the bone,’ said Jonathan Ashworth, Labour’s shadow health and social care secretary.

‘These swingeing cuts are completely short-sighted and are pushing us deeper into a public health crisis.’

SIGN UP
For your free daily news bulletin
Highways jobs

Wandsworth NCIL Project Officer

London Borough of Richmond upon Thames and London Borough of Wandsworth
£36,432 - £44,147
Wandsworth NCIL Project Officer
Recuriter: London Borough of Richmond upon Thames and London Borough of Wandsworth

Part Time Business Operations Assistant - ACL

Essex County Council
Up to £23344 per annum + Pro Rata
Part Time Business Operations Assistant - Adult Community LearningPermanent, Part Time£23,344 Per Annum, full time equivalentLocation
Recuriter: Essex County Council

Solent Mitigation Partnership Manager (permanent)

Fareham Borough Council
£61,635 - £70,765 per annum
Would you like to take on a challenging and exciting new role to lead an ambitious programme of environmental mitigation. Fareham, Hampshire / Solent Mitigation Partnership
Recuriter: Fareham Borough Council

Litigation and Court Officer

Mansfield District Council
£33,366 - £37,938 per annum
Are you looking to start 2025 with a new challenge? Mansfield, Nottinghamshire
Recuriter: Mansfield District Council

Principal Cost / Framework Manager

Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council
£49,764 - £52,805
The Building Design Consultancy is an energetic and forward-thinking group of professionals Rotherham, South Yorkshire
Recuriter: Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council
Linkedin Banner

Partner Content

Circular highways is a necessity not an aspiration – and it’s within our grasp

Shell is helping power the journey towards a circular paving industry with Shell Bitumen LT R, a new product for roads that uses plastics destined for landfill as part of the additives to make the bitumen.

Support from Effective Energy Group for Local Authorities to Deliver £430m Sustainable Warmth Funded Energy Efficiency Projects

Effective Energy Group is now offering its support to the 40 Local Authorities who have received a share of the £430m to deliver their projects on the ground by surveying properties and installing measures.

Pay.UK – the next step in Bacs’ evolution

Dougie Belmore explains how one of the main interfaces between you and Bacs is about to change.