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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/society/2018/sep/20/public-health-schemes-fall-victim-to-spending-cuts-figures-show
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| Public health schemes fall victim to spending cuts, figures show | Public health schemes fall victim to spending cuts, figures show |
| (4 months later) | |
| Efforts to tackle obesity, reduce smoking and improve children’s health have been cut back since ministers slashed public health budgets, government figures show. | Efforts to tackle obesity, reduce smoking and improve children’s health have been cut back since ministers slashed public health budgets, government figures show. |
| Schemes to reduce the number of unintended pregnancies, wean addicts off drugs and alcohol and offer middle-aged people free health checks are also being scaled back, despite experts saying this would cost more money in the long term. | Schemes to reduce the number of unintended pregnancies, wean addicts off drugs and alcohol and offer middle-aged people free health checks are also being scaled back, despite experts saying this would cost more money in the long term. |
| Councils across England, under pressure after the government reduced their public health grants, have put £96.3m less this year than the previous one into a wide range of prevention measures. | Councils across England, under pressure after the government reduced their public health grants, have put £96.3m less this year than the previous one into a wide range of prevention measures. |
| An analysis of spending plans by Labour found 130 of 152 local councils are spending less on public health this year than in 2017-18. The findings are based on data published by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government. | An analysis of spending plans by Labour found 130 of 152 local councils are spending less on public health this year than in 2017-18. The findings are based on data published by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government. |
| They have been forced to reduce spending because, between 2015-16 and 2020-21, ministers are moving £800m from public health grants to local authorities to the NHS, in order to cope with growing pressure on its frontline services. | They have been forced to reduce spending because, between 2015-16 and 2020-21, ministers are moving £800m from public health grants to local authorities to the NHS, in order to cope with growing pressure on its frontline services. |
| Jonathan Ashworth, the shadow health and social care secretary, who drew up the analysis, criticised the cuts to preventive services as “shortsighted, cynical and wrong”. | Jonathan Ashworth, the shadow health and social care secretary, who drew up the analysis, criticised the cuts to preventive services as “shortsighted, cynical and wrong”. |
| “Local services which are there to keep people well and out of hospital are to be slashed in every part of England. These cuts to public health budgets will leave people sicker and, in the long run, will cost the NHS much more than they save,” he said. | “Local services which are there to keep people well and out of hospital are to be slashed in every part of England. These cuts to public health budgets will leave people sicker and, in the long run, will cost the NHS much more than they save,” he said. |
| Ninety-three councils plan to spend £16.2m less on public health services for children up to the age of five, and 83 are cutting £7.3m from schemes to improve the health of five to 19-year-olds. | Ninety-three councils plan to spend £16.2m less on public health services for children up to the age of five, and 83 are cutting £7.3m from schemes to improve the health of five to 19-year-olds. |
| In addition, 88 will put £3.4m less into efforts to help smokers quit, while 97 have reduced spending by £13.2m on drug treatment for adults and 87 have removed £7.9m from services tackling alcohol abuse. | In addition, 88 will put £3.4m less into efforts to help smokers quit, while 97 have reduced spending by £13.2m on drug treatment for adults and 87 have removed £7.9m from services tackling alcohol abuse. |
| Seventy-two councils are cutting services to counter obesity in children by £758,000, while 74 are doing the same with adult obesity (£283,000). Dozens are also reducing schemes to promote physical activity and 58 will trim efforts to check children’s body mass index. | Seventy-two councils are cutting services to counter obesity in children by £758,000, while 74 are doing the same with adult obesity (£283,000). Dozens are also reducing schemes to promote physical activity and 58 will trim efforts to check children’s body mass index. |
| Shirley Cramer, the chief executive of the Royal Society for Public Health, said the cuts would “have a devastating impact on the longer-term health of our nation”. | Shirley Cramer, the chief executive of the Royal Society for Public Health, said the cuts would “have a devastating impact on the longer-term health of our nation”. |
| “Cuts to sexual health, stop smoking and drug misuse services will save money in the short term, but will cost far more over coming decades,” she said. | “Cuts to sexual health, stop smoking and drug misuse services will save money in the short term, but will cost far more over coming decades,” she said. |
| Helen Donovan, the professional lead for public health at the Royal College of Nursing, said: “With higher levels of childhood obesity, stalling life expectancy and swingeing cuts to sexual health services, it’s clear the progress we’ve made over the last few years is being undone.” | Helen Donovan, the professional lead for public health at the Royal College of Nursing, said: “With higher levels of childhood obesity, stalling life expectancy and swingeing cuts to sexual health services, it’s clear the progress we’ve made over the last few years is being undone.” |
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