Public health funding settlement is “nowhere near enough” leaders warn

Next year’s funding for preventative services such as sexual health and weight management will not be sufficient to reverse the damaging impact of a decade of cuts, public health leaders have warned.

The grant, which also funds tobacco, drug, and alcohol services, and early years provision, has been slashed over the past decade as the government has tightened the screw on public sector spending.1

This week, the government announced a 2.1% cash uplift to the grant for 2024-25.23 But the Association of Directors of Public Health (ADPH) said that given the years of cuts, high inflation, and staff pay increases, this equated2 to a ninth consecutive year of …