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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Public health plans 'in disarray' | Public health plans 'in disarray' |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Measures to tackle rising public health problems are being scrapped or postponed because the funds have not materialised, public health chiefs say. | Measures to tackle rising public health problems are being scrapped or postponed because the funds have not materialised, public health chiefs say. |
| An extra £211m was to be ploughed into projects this year to tackle smoking, obesity and sexual health. | An extra £211m was to be ploughed into projects this year to tackle smoking, obesity and sexual health. |
| But public health directors say just a fraction was coming through because of the deficits crisis and the push risked "never getting off the ground". | But public health directors say just a fraction was coming through because of the deficits crisis and the push risked "never getting off the ground". |
| The government says NHS trusts should be making public health a priority. | The government says NHS trusts should be making public health a priority. |
| Meanwhile, a group of 110 childhood experts has written to the Daily Telegraph newspaper warning that a lifestyle dominated by junk food, marketing, over-competitive education and screen-based entertainment is adversely affecting children's behaviour and development. | Meanwhile, a group of 110 childhood experts has written to the Daily Telegraph newspaper warning that a lifestyle dominated by junk food, marketing, over-competitive education and screen-based entertainment is adversely affecting children's behaviour and development. |
| White paper | White paper |
| The Public Health White Paper, Choosing Health?, published two years ago, is best known for proposing the smoking ban but also included a range of measures to tackle other problems. | The Public Health White Paper, Choosing Health?, published two years ago, is best known for proposing the smoking ban but also included a range of measures to tackle other problems. |
| It is so disheartening. Two years ago we thought we had reached a real turning point, now it is in disarray Angela Mawle, of the Public Health Association What went wrong? | It is so disheartening. Two years ago we thought we had reached a real turning point, now it is in disarray Angela Mawle, of the Public Health Association What went wrong? |
| Primary care trusts (PCTs), which control local NHS budgets, responded by drawing up a number of plans involving health trainers, school nurses, dieticians and health psychologists. | Primary care trusts (PCTs), which control local NHS budgets, responded by drawing up a number of plans involving health trainers, school nurses, dieticians and health psychologists. |
| Some £211m of extra funding to pay for the projects was due to kick in this year, with another £131m next. | Some £211m of extra funding to pay for the projects was due to kick in this year, with another £131m next. |
| But the Association of Directors of Public Health says the money is not reaching the public health budgets because it is being used to plug deficits instead. | But the Association of Directors of Public Health says the money is not reaching the public health budgets because it is being used to plug deficits instead. |
| A snapshot survey of 24 London PCTs revealed only £1 in £6 was ending up in public health budgets. | A snapshot survey of 24 London PCTs revealed only £1 in £6 was ending up in public health budgets. |
| But the association said trusts across England were affected with some public health budgets not getting anything extra. | But the association said trusts across England were affected with some public health budgets not getting anything extra. |
| In Derbyshire, plans to employ more school nurses and health trainers, who give lifestyle and diet advice, have been shelved after public health bosses received less than a quarter of the £3m they expected. | In Derbyshire, plans to employ more school nurses and health trainers, who give lifestyle and diet advice, have been shelved after public health bosses received less than a quarter of the £3m they expected. |
| Overweight | Overweight |
| While in Hillingdon, in London, the roll out of the chlamydia screening programme for 16 to 24-year-olds is on hold and a new system involving dieticians, psychologists and exercise referral for the overweight was scrapped. | While in Hillingdon, in London, the roll out of the chlamydia screening programme for 16 to 24-year-olds is on hold and a new system involving dieticians, psychologists and exercise referral for the overweight was scrapped. |
| None of the expected £767,000 extra this year has reached the public health budget. | None of the expected £767,000 extra this year has reached the public health budget. |
| And chlamydia screening and an obesity strategy have been put on hold in Wiltshire. | And chlamydia screening and an obesity strategy have been put on hold in Wiltshire. |
| Association of Directors of Public Health president Dr Tim Crayford warned if the issue was not addressed the country could see public health problems soar. | Association of Directors of Public Health president Dr Tim Crayford warned if the issue was not addressed the country could see public health problems soar. |
| "Public health funding is like the country's pension. It's easy to avoid paying your contributions in a tight financial year. | "Public health funding is like the country's pension. It's easy to avoid paying your contributions in a tight financial year. |
| Primary care trusts, which are closest to their local patients, are best placed to assess local needs and to arrange services appropriately Department of Health spokeswoman | Primary care trusts, which are closest to their local patients, are best placed to assess local needs and to arrange services appropriately Department of Health spokeswoman |
| "You won't generally notice any difference to your lifestyle in the year you have your 'pension holiday'. | "You won't generally notice any difference to your lifestyle in the year you have your 'pension holiday'. |
| "Twenty years later, however, the consequences of that one year will catch up with you." | "Twenty years later, however, the consequences of that one year will catch up with you." |
| He said while the government had showed a great commitment by earmarking this funding for public health, he wanted to see ministers go further by ring-fencing the money. | He said while the government had showed a great commitment by earmarking this funding for public health, he wanted to see ministers go further by ring-fencing the money. |
| If not, the push on public health risked "never getting off the ground", he added. | If not, the push on public health risked "never getting off the ground", he added. |
| Angela Mawle, chief executive of the Public Health Association campaign group added: "It is so disheartening. Two years ago we thought we had reached a real turning point, now it is in disarray." | Angela Mawle, chief executive of the Public Health Association campaign group added: "It is so disheartening. Two years ago we thought we had reached a real turning point, now it is in disarray." |
| Pressure | |
| Nigel Edwards, director of policy at the NHS Confederation, which represents health trusts, said PCTs were under pressure because the government had made achieving financial balance a "top priority". | Nigel Edwards, director of policy at the NHS Confederation, which represents health trusts, said PCTs were under pressure because the government had made achieving financial balance a "top priority". |
| He added there needed to be a separate funding pot for public health. | He added there needed to be a separate funding pot for public health. |
| A Department of Health spokeswoman said public health was one of the NHS's priorities. | A Department of Health spokeswoman said public health was one of the NHS's priorities. |
| But she added: "The department does not generally ring-fence money because patients' needs are different in different local areas. | But she added: "The department does not generally ring-fence money because patients' needs are different in different local areas. |
| "Primary care trusts, which are closest to their local patients, are best placed to assess local needs and to arrange services appropriately." | "Primary care trusts, which are closest to their local patients, are best placed to assess local needs and to arrange services appropriately." |
| Shadow Health Secretary Andrew Lansley said: "The government have failed to match their rhetoric on measures to tackle public health problems with the necessary structures on the ground. | |
| "Public health budgets are being plundered in an effort to offset deficits created by the Government's financial mismanagement of the NHS. | |
| "Public health budgets need to be ring-fenced to stop this and secure the long term strategies needed to deliver improved outcomes." |