Local public health services have been given a £200 million boost in public health grants for the financial year of 2025/2026. This increased source of funding is said to strengthen family and school nurses, sexual health clinics and other public health services. The new development comes as part of the government’s Plan for Change, in a mission to boost NHS services for the future.
Figures from the Department of Health and Social Care, released on Friday, reveal an average of 1.7% increase on public health funding in England from the previous financial year. Windsor and Maidenhead and Wokingham are the two counties with the highest percentage increase, which surpasses the 3% mark.
For the financial year 2025/2026, Birmingham is in receipt of the highest value in public health grants by a significant margin. The county has received £108.5m, £27m more than its runner up, Kent (£81.5m).
However, the highest amount of funding per person was attributed to the City of London, which registers a grant amount of £212.40 per person; this is followed by Kensington and Chelsea, also in London, which has received £159.1 per person in funding. Conversely, Wokingham (£35.60) and Windsor and Maidenhead (£36.08) are the two counties with the lowest value in grants per person, despite the high percentage increase from last year.
Data viewpoints
Andrew Gwynne, minister for public health and prevention: “Whether it’s supporting people to quit smoking, giving children a healthy start to life, or providing addiction recovery services, this investment as part of the government’s Plan for Change will make a real difference in communities across the country.”
“After a decade of cuts to public health, this government is committed to shifting the focus of healthcare from sickness to prevention, and we’re putting our money where our mouth is.”
Cllr David Fothergill, chairman of the Local Government Association’s Community Wellbeing Board: “We are pleased the Government has increased the public health grant for councils, acting on our concerns over the significant funding pressures public health teams have been under to maintain vital services such as sexual health services, smoking cessation programmes and drug treatment.”
“Investing in public health is key to bridging the health inequality gap, improving population health and preventing ill-health, reducing the pressure on social care and the NHS.”
Adam Briggs, senior policy fellow at the Health Foundation: “Today’s public health grant announcement is a welcome first step in putting prevention back at the heart of the government’s agenda and one we have long called for.”
“Moreover, this allocation is still 26% smaller in real terms per person than in 2015/16. Further restoring the public health grant to 2025/16 levels in the future would help counter declines in healthy life expectancy and reduce inequalities.”
David Buck, Senior Fellow at The King’s Fund: “The allocation of this grant comes against a tight financial backdrop across all government departments. But the rising burden of disease across the country is itself hampering economic growth. Without further ramping up investment and resources in preventive services, it will be hard to realise one of the government’s essential goals – shifting from treatment to prevention.”
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