The Department of Health has published the new White Paper Healthy lives, healthy people: our strategy for public health in England. It sets out the framework in which a new public health service, named Public Health England, will manage a ring-fenced budget of around £4 billion. The paper proposes Public Health England will take on full responsibilities from 2012 with the ring-fenced funding allocated to local government from April 2013 as Primary Care Trusts are removed.
The White Paper states it will "end central control and give local government the freedom, responsibility and funding" to address public health locally. In the foreword, the Health Secretary Andrew Lansley says it aims to avoid "nannying" but "empowers individuals to make healthy choices". The paper confirms the controversial Responsibility Deals - industry led groups tasked with promoting healthier lifestyles on areas such as alcohol and obesity.
Limited detail is given in respect of alcohol specific treatment and interventions, though states it will "align funding streams on drug and alcohol treatment services across the community and in criminal justice settings" and will "incentivise recovery outcomes". Further details will be outlined in the forthcoming Home Office drugs strategy. A consultation page for the White Paper is available here. The proposals will need to be approved by Parliament as part of the Health and Social Care Bill.
See reports on the White Paper from the Guardian, BBC and the Telegraph. See statements and comments from Drugscope, the King's Fund and the Faculty of Public Health.
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