Shortfall of millions in public health funding

Despite promises of extra cash over the next two years, nine councils in the region have been told that by 2015 they still will not have the level of funding recommended by independent experts.

In April, local authorities will take over responsibility for funding services such as access to sexual health clinics and “MoT” health checks for people over 40.

Councils are also supposed to use their new powers to promote healthier lifestyles through work in areas such as diet, exercise and smoking.

City of York Council has been told it will receive £6.6m this year rising to £7.3m the following year but still around £1.5m short of what it needs.

Council leader James Alexander said: “We take our responsibility for public health very seriously which is why we have pushed 
for the necessary level of funding for our population, a figure of 
£42 per head according to the Government’s Department of Health.

“So the fact we are receiving only £33 per head indicates the Government is short-changing York residents from the outset.

“Obviously we will use this money efficiently to achieve the best health outcomes we can for the city’s residents, but it is very concerning to have to start off in this way.”

Leeds, where there is a 10-year gap in life expectancy between the richest and poorest parts of the city, will be facing a 14 per cent funding gap, or around £6m.

Coun Lisa Mulherin, executive member for health and wellbeing, said: “Clearly we welcome the fact that public health is not being subjected to the same sort of cuts as other funding local authorities are experiencing but it still means we are well short of what we need for a city the size and with the issues of health inequalities of Leeds.

“If you look at comparisons with other major cities, even with other parts of the North, we compare very badly in terms of what we need.

“We are doing some great stuff around early interventions working with vulnerable families and if we could extend that it would enable us to support more young parents to given them the parenting skills to break the cycle of deprivation and ensure their children have better prospects.”

East Riding of Yorkshire Council will receive £25 per person this year rising to £27 next year when the independent panel advising the Government says it will need £33.

Deputy leader Jonathan Owen welcomed the extra cash but said the authority was looking for further changes in the way the funding is calculated to recognise the authority’s particular needs.

“The ageing population is a particular problem in the East Riding and hopefully in future more weight will be given to that.”

While most parts of the county are facing shortfalls, a small number are set to receive more than the Government’s panel of independent experts think is necessary. By 2015, Hull will be receiving 10 per cent more than the city needs while Doncaster will be nine per cent over the target.

A Department of Health spokesman said: “This is a major investment and a step toward securing these services for the areas that need them most.

“By putting local authorities in charge of public health, we are giving them the power, freedom and the funding to tackle the issues that blight their local areas and help improve the lives of their local communities.”