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.
