6 October 2010
Councils want a bigger role in health care and no ring-fencing of public health budgets.
The Local Government Association’s official response to Health Secretary Andrew Lansley’s white paper, published in July, said yesterday that councils should be put ‘at the heart of’ commissioning health services.
The white paper proposed giving councils strategic oversight of health services in their area, which would be commissioned by GPs, and a ring-fenced public health budget worth, around 4% of the total NHS spend.
But the LGA submission, although welcoming the new responsibility for councils, said that ring-fenced funding could be ‘a barrier to adopting a whole-systems approach to achieving the best health and wellbeing outcomes’.
The statement argues that a fixed public health budget might cause councils to cut spending elsewhere, in housing and leisure for example, where existing projects already had a public health benefit.
David Rogers, chair of the LGA’s community wellbeing board, said the shake-up was an opportunity for the health service.
‘But councils need to be at the heart of commissioning, especially in the areas they have experience and expertise in.’
He cited services for vulnerable people who councils already work with regularly, and who GPs will be less experienced in dealing with.
‘Councils are best placed to improve their residents’ health in many ways, whether it be promoting nutritious food and exercise, or helping people quit smoking or excessive drinking,’ he said.
