LGA responds to prevention green paper

24 Jul 2019 04:31 PM

Cllr Ian Hudspeth, Chairman of the Local Government Association’s Community Wellbeing Board, responds to to the publication of the Government’s green paper on prevention.

“This green paper, while containing some ambitious and interesting ideas, is a missed opportunity to make the most of councils’ role and expertise in meeting our shared vision for a healthier nation. 

“Everyone agrees that prevention is better than cure, but councils also need adequate funding for their public health services to help achieve the stated aims of this approach. 

“The new Prime Minister must now prioritise preventative services by using the upcoming Spending Review to reverse the £700 million of public health funding cuts over the last five years.

“Only this, alongside a joined-up prevention approach across government, can help councils tackle persistent problems like obesity, mental illness, substance misuse, sexually transmitted infections and the health impact of loneliness, as well as addressing some of the serious health inequalities that still exist across the country.”

Notes to editors

• Councils in England face an overall funding gap of £8 billion by 2025. The LGA’s #CouncilsCan campaign calls on the new Prime Minister to ensure the forthcoming Spending Review secures the future of vital local services and the long-term financial sustainability of councils. Visit our campaign page for more information.

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