This settlement continues to leave local public health teams with limited resources to maintain essential services
Commenting on the publication of the 2024/25 public health grant allocations, Cllr David Fothergill, Chairman of the Local Government Association’s Community Wellbeing Board said:
“Although any real terms increase is positive news, this settlement continues to leave local public health teams with limited resources to maintain essential services such as sexual health services and specialist community public health nursing for the next year.
“Public health teams have faced an unprecedented period of pressures, with funding levels not keeping pace with demand. Sufficient ongoing funding is needed to ensure all local authorities can continue to meet their statutory public health responsibilities.
“It is vitally important that the Government continues to address challenges which arise over the coming months and years.
“We will continue to make the case for multi-year settlements and for more long-term certainty around public health funding for all councils.
“An increased focus on prevention through an uplift to the public health grant is urgently needed, as well as a wider review of the adequacy of public health funding. This will support the Government’s wider aims by improving health outcomes, reducing health spending and putting social care and the NHS on a better footing for the long term.”
Notes to editors
Latest LGA analysis shows that, in real terms, councils have seen a £858 million reduction in their public health grant since 2015.