Public health | LocalGov


Councils could be forbidden from using destructive pesticides in parks 25/04/2025 MPs will today debate a proposal that could see the use of 'toxic' weedkillers by councils banned.
Data reveals council areas with most fast food outlets 12/02/2025 The London borough of Camden has more fast food outlets per resident than any other local authority area in England, according to new analysis.
Government increases Public Health Grant by 5.4% 07/02/2025 A £200m boost to public health services has been announced by the Government.
Chancellor urged to boost public health grant by £1.4bn 08/10/2024 Directors of public health have written to the Government urging it to boost the public health grant by £1.4bn.
LGA: Councils need sustainable funding to deliver funerals 23/09/2024 Sustainable funding and long-term certainty are needed so local authorities can meet rising demand for public health funerals (PHFs), council bosses say.
Darzi review: ‘Extraordinary power in getting public health right’ 12/09/2024 The Government must invest in public health to ease pressure on a health service ‘in critical condition’, according to a damning new review of the NHS.
Public health bosses call for long-term sexual health strategy 10/09/2024 The Association of Directors of Public Health (ADPH) has urged the Government to commit to a sexual and reproductive health strategy after a decade of cuts.
Walsall residents urged to avoid canal after chemical spillage 15/08/2024 Walsall Council has urged members of the public to avoid a 12-mile section of the Walsall canal after tests confirmed sodium cyanide had been dumped.
Call to exclude alcohol industry from health policymaking 05/08/2024 Campaigners have urged the new Government to protect public health policy from ‘interference’ from the alcohol industry.
Starmer urged to prioritise smoking ban 08/07/2024 Doctors and public health campaigners have called on the new Labour government to ensure that plans to phase out smoking sit at the ‘front and centre’ of its agenda.
Council to restrict new takeaway sites 20/06/2024 New measures to limit the development of new hot food takeaway sites have been introduced by Newcastle City Council.
Call for urgent action on childhood obesity 18/06/2024 ‘Urgent and decisive’ action is needed to combat rising levels of childhood obesity, a public health director has argued.
Council chiefs call for 10-year sexual health strategy 04/06/2024 Council leaders have called on the next Government to launch a 10-year sexual health strategy after new figures reveal rise in sexually transmitted infections.
Liverpool to spend £2m to reduce smoking 30/05/2024 Liverpool City Council is set to spend almost £2m on a new tobacco control strategy.
Public health grant cut by over 20% 30/05/2024 Services such as sexual health and drug and alcohol programmes have seen their budgets reduced by more than other health care services, a think tank has revealed.
Torbay Council issues contaminated tap water advice 16/05/2024 Torbay Council has warned residents in Brixham to boil water before drinking it after dozens of people fell ill due to Cryptosporidium parasites.
Making England smoke-free could redirect £11bn to local economies 09/04/2024 A new study has found that if everyone in England stopped smoking, £10.9bn could be redirected to local economies each year.
Sunderland considers minimum alcohol price 03/04/2024 Sunderland City Council is set to launch a consultation on introducing a local minimum unit price for alcohol.
Offering alcohol-free beer on draught can improve public health 21/03/2024 Making alcohol-free beer more widely available on draught in pubs may help people switch to non-alcoholic drinks without hurting profits, a new study suggests.
Dover issues s114 warning over funding withdrawal 05/02/2024 A council could be at risk of issuing a section 114 notice if it is left to shoulder the costs of port biosecurity checks.
UK’s first regular drug checking service launched in Bristol 29/01/2024 The first regular drug checking service in the UK has been launched this month in central Bristol.
Half of young vapers never regularly smoked, study finds 24/01/2024 A new study has found that 316,000 young people who use disposable vapes never regularly smoked tobacco, but warns that banning the vape products would risk causing relapse among ex-smokers.
Sexual health services ‘at breaking point’ 22/01/2024 Rising cases of sexually transmitted infections and decreasing levels of funding are pushing sexual health services to ‘breaking point’, according to the Local Government Association.
A million lives ‘cut short’ by inequality 08/01/2024 A million people in England had their lives cut short because of health inequality between 2011 and 2019, research has found.
Call for greater drug use surveillance 18/12/2023 Council chiefs have called for greater regulation and surveillance of the use of illegal drugs in response to what they have called ‘worrying new trends’.
Councils call for support after ‘stark’ climate change warnings 11/12/2023 Local authority leaders have said they need support to prepare communities for climate change after a stark report described the impacts of changing temperatures on people’s health.
Damning reality of asylum 05/12/2023 A shocking public health report by Hounslow LBC exposes bleak conditions as councils urge Home Office and contractors to improve.
Councils respond to King’s Speech 08/11/2023 The Local Government Association (LGA) has responded to proposed legislation announced yesterday in the King’s Speech.
Meals on wheels ‘heading for UK-wide collapse’ 30/10/2023 The National Association of Care Catering (NACC) has called for meals on wheels to become a statutory responsibility for councils after it found provision of the services continued to fall.
Public support more focus on poor health causes 02/10/2023 The Government should invest more in public health to address the roots of poor health, according to a poll for the charity Royal Society for Public Health (RSPH).
Councils press for more stringent air quality targets 06/09/2023 Local authorities have dismissed claims air pollution targets cannot be met by 2030.
Pandemic planning 'insufficient,' says public health chief 06/07/2023 The Government’s lack of planning and top-down approach hindered directors of public health during the pandemic, the UK Covid-19 Inquiry has heard.
Council chiefs call for pay ‘clarity’ 14/06/2023 Local authority leaders have called for ‘clarity’ on pay increases for staff working in non-NHS provided services will be fully funded.
Poor pandemic planning criticised 13/06/2023 Public health directors have criticised the Government’s Covid-19 preparedness – warning Whitehall must utilise council expertise to avoid repeat.
Sexual health services at ‘breaking point’ 06/06/2023 Local council-commissioned sexual health services are at ‘breaking point’, warn local authority leaders.
MPs call for more funding for alcohol treatment 25/05/2023 Local authorities must be given the certainty and stability over funding they need to maintain and improve alcohol treatment programmes, MPs say.
Adult obesity in rural areas up by over 1m 15/05/2023 Rural areas are facing a surge in numbers of obese and overweight people but are hamstrung in their efforts to deal with it, according to council leaders.
Diabetics face ‘stark health inequalities’, charity warns 10/05/2023 Huge numbers of people with diabetes are not being given the routine checks they need, according to a new report on health inequalities.
Unfunded NHS pay rises could lead to cuts, council chiefs warn 23/03/2023 Local authorities might be forced to cut vital public health services if the proposed new NHS pay rises are not properly funded, council leaders warn.
Local health chiefs warn of ‘second health emergency’ 21/03/2023 The increase in costs of essential food items and energy has created a ‘second health emergency’ after the COVID pandemic, local health chiefs have warned.
Public health grant of £3.5bn ‘insufficient’ 14/03/2023 The public health grant will be £3.5bn in total, according to the Government, but council leaders have criticised it as ‘insufficient’.
Minister mounts Oflog defence 10/03/2023 Local government minister Lee Rowley told councillors to ‘judge us by what we do, not what you worry about’ as he defended the planned Oflog.
Councils ‘in the dark’ about public health funding 01/03/2023 Councils are being kept in the dark over budgets for public health in the coming year, local government leaders have warned.
Councils ‘in the dark’ about public health funding 06/02/2023 Vital frontline services, such as drug and alcohol treatment, are at risk of being cut unless Government announces public health funding for next year.
Charge manufacturers for fly-tipping clean up, council chiefs say 01/02/2023 Manufacturers should contribute to the cost of cleaning up fly-tipped rubbish to help tackle the health risk posed by the illegal practice, council chiefs say.
Council chiefs call for ‘clarity’ on addiction services funding 19/01/2023 Council leaders have called for ‘urgent clarity’ on how addiction services will be funded after the figures reveal a rise in number of people seeking help.
Funding cuts reduce health visitor force by 40% 18/01/2023 The number of health visitors has plummeted by nearly 40% since 2015 due to public health grant cuts, local authority leaders warn.
Top awards for sector in King Charles III's Honours list 03/01/2023 Local government figures from across the sector have been recognised in the first New Year's Honours list under King Charles III.
Council declares ‘pee-back time’ 15/12/2022 Westminster City Council is cracking down on revellers who use Soho’s streets as a public urinal.
Deaths caused by alcohol reach 'record high' 09/12/2022 Council leaders have called for a 'concerted approach' to tackling alcohol dependency after figures showed the number of deaths caused by alcohol has hit a record high.
Number of recorded smokers reaches all-time low 06/12/2022 The number of people smoking has fallen to 13% in 2021, the lowest level on record, official figures have revealed.
Council chiefs urge more action to address ‘dental deserts’ 29/11/2022 Local authority leaders have called for ‘much more’ to be done to address the shortage of NHS dentists as the Government unveils its new dental care plan.
Ministers urged to break the link between drugs and deprivation 14/11/2022 Around 1,600 drug-related deaths could be prevented in the North and Scotland if the Government ensures drugs policy reform is included in levelling up plans, a think tank has argued today.
Councils warn of a 'dramatic' fall in teeth extractions due to pandemic 07/11/2022 The number of teeth extractions carried out on children in hospital fell to a record low in 2020/21 due to procedures being cancelled or delayed, council leaders have warned.
Public health budget slashed by a quarter, charity reveals 26/10/2022 A charity has warned against cuts to public health as an analysis reveals that austerity under Conservative governments has hit the poorest the hardest.
Young children across London to be offered polio vaccine booster 11/08/2022 Children aged 1 to 9 in London will be offered a polio vaccine booster after a poliovirus was detected in sewage.
Sharp increase in drug deaths ‘very concerning’, council chiefs say 03/08/2022 The over 6% increase in the number of drug related deaths in England and Wales is ‘very concerning’, local authority leaders say.
'Drastic' action needed to meet childhood obesity targets, councils warn 20/07/2022 The Government is likely to miss its childhood obesity targets despite a fall in obesity rates in primary school children, council chiefs have warned today.
Councils warn public health investment needed to deliver women’s health strategy 20/07/2022 Council leaders have warned that past cuts to public health funding could undermine government efforts to tackle major inequalities within women’s health.
Immediate action needed to achieve smokefree target, review warns 09/06/2022 The age in which people can buy tobacco products should increase by one year every year until no-one is able to purchase them in this country, a new review has recommended.
Council chiefs urge people to be alert after new monkeypox cases detected 24/05/2022 Local authority leaders have urged everyone to be aware of any unusual rashes or lesions as 36 additional cases of monkeypox are detected in England.
Councils warn illicit tobacco could undermine smoking cessation efforts 23/05/2022 Council leaders have warned the cost of living crisis could cause more people to use cheap counterfeit tobacco, widening health disparities.
Loneliness-related mental health problems impact vulnerable communities 16/05/2022 Disparities in local funding mean that vulnerable citizens are lacking access to social resources that might provide mental health support, study reveals.
Charity warns of 'rapid rise' in food poverty 09/05/2022 More than seven million people live in households that have been forced to skip meals because they couldn't afford or get access to food, new data has revealed.
Ministers urged to reverse public health cuts 22/03/2022 The Local Government Association (LGA) has urged ministers to reverse public health cuts amid warnings the COVID-19 pandemic has left staff exhausted and exacerbated recruitment difficulties.
England sees ‘significant reduction’ in deaths from hepatitis C 03/03/2022 There has been a ‘significant reduction’ in deaths from hepatitis C in England, a new report has revealed.
Report calls for stronger action on major health risk factors 23/02/2022 The Government's current approach to tackling the leading risk factors for ill health is 'insufficient' to deliver on its key targets, according to a new report.
Public health directors warn of dangers in ending COVID-19 testing 17/02/2022 The Government is reportedly looking at scrapping free tests as part of its national post-COVID plan.
Lack of movement skills in children risks a 'tsunami' of health issues 28/01/2022 The UK will face a 'tsunami' of health issues unless the physical activity skills of children and teenagers are improved, academics have warned today.
Council chiefs warn vital health services ‘at risk’ 20/01/2022 Vital frontline health services are at risk due to a lack of certainty around councils’ public health funding, local authority leaders have warned.
New app to help improve children's diet 10/01/2022 A new app to help families improve the diets of their children has been launched today.
Sandwell calls for action on test shortage 06/01/2022 A council has written to ministers after it was forced to step in to alleviate a shortage of COVID testing kits.
Lords call for national plan to tackle inactivity 13/12/2021 Local authorities should have a legal duty to provide and maintain sport and leisure facilities, according to a Lords Committee.
Alcohol-related deaths rose by record levels during pandemic 08/12/2021 The number of deaths caused by alcohol misuse increased by nearly 19% in 2020, official figures have shown.
Largest ever funding boost to tackle drug misuse 07/12/2021 All local authorities in England are set to receive new funding to tackle drug and alcohol misuse over the next three years.
Wolverhampton to pilot new anti-obesity scheme 02/12/2021 Residents in Wolverhampton could receive vouchers and tickets if they adopt healthier lifestyle choices, under a new scheme being piloted in the city.
West Midlands to receive £6.5m to boost sports 18/11/2021 The West Midlands are to receive a £6.5m injection of cash to help improve facilities and level up access to community sport as part of the legacy of next summer’s Commonwealth Games.
England's first specialist clinics to help severely obese children 16/11/2021 More than 1,000 severely obese children will receive specialist treatment and targeted support every year as part of a new pilot project.
New partnership will roll out anti-spiking tests across Greater Manchester 10/11/2021 Anti-spiking tests will be rolled out across major venues in Greater Manchester as part of a new partnership to tackle drink spiking.
Plans to make Wales smoke-free by 2030 08/11/2021 A new plan to make Wales smoke-free by the end of the decade has been unveiled.
Putting health and wellbeing at the heart of Ashfield 01/11/2021 While many councils are struggling with outdated and under-used leisure facilities, Laura Sharman finds out how Ashfield District Council is bucking this trend thanks to a new leisure management contract and transformation programme.
E-cigarettes could be prescribed on the NHS 29/10/2021 England could become the first country in the world to prescribe e-cigarettes in a bid to reduce smoking rates.
Think-tank makes call for wellbeing budgets 18/10/2021 The Government should introduce ‘wellbeing budgets’ that look beyond gross domestic product (GDP) to reduce regional health inequalities, a think-tank has urged.
Councils call for £100m investment in school counselling 15/10/2021 The Government has been urged to invest at least £100m per year to make school-based counselling available to all children.
One in 10 people will have diabetes within a decade, charity warns 06/10/2021 One in 10 adults in the UK could be diabetic by 2030, according to new analysis by Diabetes UK.
Public health grant cuts run counter to levelling up, say experts 05/10/2021 Real terms cuts to local public health work against levelling up and the Government must boost funding after years of underinvestment, say two leading health organisations.
Problem gambling costs society £1.27 billion a year, review finds 01/10/2021 Gambling-related harms costs society at least £1.27bn a year, a review by Public Health England has found.
Councils call for £1bn investment for ageing sport facilities 16/09/2021 Council leaders are calling for the spending review to include £1bn to modernise sport facilities, after warning nearly two-thirds of the leisure estate is past its replacement date.
‘No evidence’ integration improves healthcare 03/09/2021 New analysis of health and care integration pilots has questioned the benefits they bring about.
Why councils should have the power to improve safety of cosmetic treatments 06/08/2021 Tony Veverka argues local authorities must be given new powers to better regulate non-surgical cosmetic procedures.
Councils warn licensing decisions should cover public health 06/08/2021 Council leaders have called for the power to take public health into account when deciding whether to grant licences to protect communities from harm.
Drug-related deaths in England and Wales reach record high 04/08/2021 The number of drug-related deaths in England and Wales reached a record high in 2020, official figures have revealed.
Councils get funding to deliver milk and healthy snack scheme 02/08/2021 Scottish local authorities will receive up to £12m funding to ensure all eligible pre-schoolers get milk and a healthy snack.
MPs call for a new exercise campaign to get children more active 29/07/2021 The Government should encourage children to become more active by launching a sports equivalent to the '5 A Day' campaign by the end of this year, MPs have said today.
Eight more regions to become Project ADDER Accelerator sites 28/07/2021 Eight more local authorities will become Project ADDER Accelerator sites to help tackle drug misuse and crack-down on drug-related crime.
North and Midlands see greatest levels of smoking-related poverty 23/07/2021 The number of smokers living in poverty is concentrated in the North and Midlands, according to new research.
Vaccinated social care staff no longer required to self-isolate 19/07/2021 Health leaders have been left divided by the Government’s announcement that fully vaccinated social care staff and NHS workers who have been told to self-isolate will be allowed to continue working.
'Deeply concerning' rise in alcohol-related deaths during pandemic 15/07/2021 Increased alcohol consumption during the pandemic has led to a 'deeply concerning' increase in deaths, new figures have warned.
Local government funding cuts have ‘cost lives’, study warns 15/07/2021 Cuts in local government funding over recent years have cost lives and reduced life expectancy, academics have warned in a new study.
Review calls for significant investment in drug treatment 08/07/2021 Local authorities should be given an extra £550m over the next five years to deliver drug treatment in their local communities, an independent review has said today.