Councils respond to Health Committee Public Health post-2013 report

Government, federal Government

"We are pleased that the Health Committee backs our warning that the cuts to councils' public health budgets are a false economy, and threaten to undermine the real progress local government has made in improving health and wellbeing, and tackling inequalities in their communities.
"We have long argued that prevention is key if we are to keep the pressure off the NHS and adult social care, and improve people's health and wellbeing. "While the Government is finding billions of pounds for the NHS over the next four years, to take vital money away from the services which can be used to prevent illness and the need for treatment later down the line, is counterproductive.
"Local authorities were eager to pick up the mantle of public health in 2013, however many now feel that they have been handed all of the responsibility but without the appropriate resources to do so."