Councils diverting public health cash
Posted: 27 Mar 2014, 09:44Councils in England are using public health budgets to fund other services, the British Medical Journal has said.
Local councils in England took over responsibility - and funding - for public health last April.
The BMJ says Freedom of Information requests reveal a third have stopped at least one public health service, with money being spent on other services such as parks and leisure instead.
But the Local Government Association said the report was "scaremongering".
A spokesman said: "Spending levels on public health have remained consistent and it is inaccurate and wholly misleading to suggest that local authorities have been siphoning off funds to prop up services elsewhere."
more:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-26753121
Local councils in England took over responsibility - and funding - for public health last April.
The BMJ says Freedom of Information requests reveal a third have stopped at least one public health service, with money being spent on other services such as parks and leisure instead.
But the Local Government Association said the report was "scaremongering".
A spokesman said: "Spending levels on public health have remained consistent and it is inaccurate and wholly misleading to suggest that local authorities have been siphoning off funds to prop up services elsewhere."
more:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-26753121