Public health services that help prevent illness and keep communities well have seen their funding slashed by more than £1 billion in real terms since 2015, according to new analysis that should concern us all. The King's Fund think tank has revealed that local authority public health grants have been cut by 28% per person over the past nine years – a reduction that threatens to put enormous additional pressure on our already stretched NHS.
These cuts affect services many of us rely on without perhaps realising their importance. The public health grant funds everything from sexual health clinics and drug and alcohol treatment programmes to health visiting for new parents and initiatives to tackle obesity. These aren't luxury services – they're the frontline of preventing serious illness before it develops.
The knock-on effects are deeply concerning. When we underfund prevention, we inevitably see more people developing chronic conditions that require expensive hospital treatment later. Take drug and alcohol services as an example – cuts here can worsen addiction problems, leading to more emergency admissions and intensive care needs. Similarly, reducing health visiting support can impact early childhood development, potentially storing up health problems for years to come.
What's particularly troubling is the gap between what governments say and what they actually fund. Politicians regularly talk about the importance of prevention and keeping people healthy, but The King's Fund's figures show this isn't being backed up with proper investment. This risks widening health inequalities across the country – something the NHS was founded to address.
Healthcare experts consistently argue that strong public health services are essential for a resilient health system. When we invest in keeping people well, we reduce demand on hospitals and GP surgeries. The current approach appears to be pushing us towards an increasingly crisis-driven system, which costs more in the long run and delivers worse outcomes for patients.
If you're concerned about your health or need support with specific conditions, your GP is always the best first port of call, or you can contact NHS 111 for advice. Local public health services, including sexual health clinics and addiction support, can usually be found through your local council's website.