Health Foundation responds to the announcement of the public health grant allocation in England

In response to the announcement of the public health grant allocations 2023/24, David Finch, Assistant Director at the Health Foundation, said:

‘It is welcome that the latest public health grant allocation of £3.5bn will protect the grant in real terms in 2023/24. However, the grant will still be £1bn a year lower than initial allocations in 2015/16 at a time when a growing number of working-age people are reporting ill health as a reason for being unable to work.

'Even accounting for the extra £154m allocated for 2023/24 to improve drug and alcohol addiction treatment and recovery leaves public health funding significantly below 2015/16 levels.

'Delaying the announcement until now has created uncertainty, making it difficult for local authorities to plan, and comes at a time of high cost pressures. Continuing with separate pots of time limited funding for specific issues, such as drugs and alcohol, or Start for Life Services, will do little to help the effective future delivery of services. We also know historic cuts have been greater in the most deprived areas of England, which also tend to have poorer health.

‘Intervening early makes good economic sense. Local authority public health schemes generate an additional year of good health for every £3,800 spent. In contrast, waiting until people fall ill leads to a higher cost to the public purse, with an additional year of good health costing the NHS £13,500 on average.

‘The government must focus on health as a national economic asset. For example, preventing people from falling into poor health could help reduce economic inactivity, increase workforce size, and boost the economy. Without appropriate long term investment, opportunities to prevent the early deterioration of health are already being missed.'

Media contact

Billie Morgan
Billie.Morgan@health.org.uk
020 7257 8001 / 0790 8637 666