RSPH has expressed disappointment at the announcement on 15 December 2016 of another round of public health funding cuts.

Local authorities will receive £84 million less from central government in 2017/18 to deliver vital public health interventions, including sexual health, substance misuse and smoking cessation services.

This latest cut follows a £77 million reduction in 2016/17 and a £200 million in-year cut in 2015/16.

Shirley Cramer CBE, Chief Executive of RSPH, said: “This announcement is the latest in a series of funding cuts which demonstrate that funding for prevention is simply not matching the rhetoric. Devolving responsibility for public health to local authorities has created great opportunities for the delivery of tailored interventions that meet the needs of local people, but without the hard cash to back it up, these opportunities risk being squandered.

We would strongly urge the government to reconsider short term cuts in public health funding which will cost us much more in the long term. It is much more cost effective to promote wellbeing rather than treat preventable ill health, yet sadly this latest announcement means we are continuing to head in the wrong direction.”