In a landmark move to enhance public health across the nation, the government has announced a substantial funding increase of nearly £200 million for local communities.
This significant investment aims to bolster family and school nurses, sexual health clinics, and other essential public health services.
As part of the government's ambitious Plan for Change, this funding boost is designed to improve health outcomes and build healthier communities. Local public health services will receive additional resources to deliver tailored prevention programmes, addressing the specific needs of their residents. This strategic shift from hospital-based care to community-focused prevention is set to create a more sustainable and future-ready NHS.
The increased funding will support a range of critical services, including:
- Smoking cessation programmes
- Addiction recovery services
- Family and school nurses
- Sexual health clinics
- Local health protection services
- Public health support for local NHS services
David Buck, Senior Fellow at The King’s Fund, commented:
“The £3.9 billion public health grant for 2025/26 represents a welcome, real terms increase on the previous year. We are yet to see government announce the separate budgets for council drug and alcohol services, so it is hard to say if there will be an overall increase in council public health budgets, but today’s announcement is a positive sign.
“The public health grant is the bread and butter for local authorities implementing services to improve people’s health. A particularly important task at a time when Britons are spending more years of their life in poor health, and millions are out of work due to long term illness.
“The government has stated its welcome ambition to shift from treatment to prevention, but there is a long way to go. This country plans to spend over £3000 per person on the NHS next year, compared to less than £70 per person for local authorities to prevent people from getting ill in the first place. The contrast is stark.
“The allocation of this grant comes against a tight financial backdrop across all government departments. But the rising burden of disease across the country is itself hampering economic growth. Without further ramping up investment and resources in preventive services, it will be hard to realise one of the government’s essential goals – shifting from treatment to prevention.”
This funding boost marks the most significant real-terms increase in nearly a decade, following a period of reduced spending between 2016 and 2024. The public health grant will rise to £3.858 billion, representing a 5.4% cash uplift (3.0% in real terms) compared to last year's funding. This investment is poised to tackle the root causes of ill health and foster stronger, healthier communities nationwide.
The government's commitment to enhancing public health services underscores its dedication to shifting the focus from sickness to prevention. By empowering local communities with the necessary resources, this initiative aims to create a more resilient and health-conscious society.
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