Responding to a Health Foundation report on the future of public health and its analysis that there are at least 77,000 premature deaths caused by heath inequalities each year, Cllr Ian Hudspeth, Chairman of the Local Government Association’s Community Wellbeing Board, said:
“Coronavirus has demonstrated the crucial role of councils’ public health services in keeping us healthy and well throughout our lives.
“As this report highlights, COVID-19 has exposed the stark health inequalities in different parts of the country and urgent need to level up our communities. This in turn reduces pressure on our health, care and criminal justice systems.
“Councils want to play their full part in the future of public health. This pandemic has proven the value of local knowledge and leaders, supported by regional and national coordination. The Government should use this opportunity to strengthen public health and improve integration across health and care, backed up by necessary funding.
“If we are to finally tackle our long-standing health inequalities, we need to start investing in these vital services now. No new public health funding for councils in the recent Spending Review, despite the ongoing pressures caused by the pandemic, makes this incredibly challenging.”
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