From Health Service Journal (full story for subscribers only):
Public health minister Caroline Flint has hinted that the government may consider 'ringfencing' funds for specific public health initiatives. Tackled on the issue by a delegate at the Association of Directors of Public Health's annual conference, Ms Flint said she recognised that there were cases where securing money for specific programmes could be effective, in 'fragile areas' in need of protection.
In a speech to the conference last week Ms Flint said the last year had been 'extremely difficult' but that reorganisation was necessary to 'come out the other side somewhere better'. Telford and Wrekin primary care trust director of health improvement Catherine Woodward asked if the government would consider earmarking money for specific public health initiatives. 'Personally I think in order to deliver the step change we are all after, a programme would need ringfencing - and proper ringfencing, not just indicative budgets,' said Ms Woodward.
Ms Flint told the conference that as a Home Office minister she had secured ringfenced funds to tackle drug abuse and admitted there were cases when directing money for specific programmes could be effective. 'It is about value for money and whether it works or not… there are certainly fragile areas that need a lot of protection'.
She said that the public health professionals and government had to work together to expose challenges and question them. 'We continue to have discussions about resources in this area and do the best we can,' she added.
This comes at a time when many fear that the new £15M for alcohol (see previous post) will be diverted into propping up PCTs' bottom line - and not be spent on alcohol initiatives at all. So, here is a challenge to expose!
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