A new Alcohol Concern report looking at the impact of the public health transfer suggests the local strategic prioritisation of alcohol may not be being matched by investment in services. It found that although most local authorities say they expect alcohol funding to stay the same or increase, many treatment providers were concerned or had recently experienced cuts.
The report, 'A measure of change: an evaluation of the impact of the public health transfer to local authorities on alcohol', documents findings from a first wave survey sent out to 30 of the 152 upper tier local authorities. The findings aim to explore the levels of prioritisation and funding of alcohol across areas with various levels of harm. The survey was also sent to Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) and treatment providers in the same areas.
Tom Smith Policy Programme Manager at Alcohol Concern said:
“As may have been expected, spending on alcohol services remained unchanged in many areas in the first year after the public health transfer to local authorities but there are anxieties, certainly from treatment providers, about the future.
“It is a real concern for the future that those local authority areas battling against the worst levels of alcohol-related harm are the least likely to expect increased funding for alcohol.
“Alcohol misuse has a huge impact on local communities so it’s vital that local authorities recognise this and create joined up strategies to address all the issues. Both treatment and prevention services need to be given clear prioritisation and responsibility must not be allowed to fall between the gaps of local bodies and service’s remits.”
The report follows a recent survey by Alcohol Concern that found that although most key local needs assessment documents recognised alcohol, most did not go far enough to address the full impact of alcohol misuse.
Indeed it seems that whilst many areas identify the need to address alcohol harms as a priority, a mixed local picture looks set to remain the norm. Issues such as funding constraints, the recently uprooted commissioning landscape, and arguably no central pressure or targets may be considered the current key challenges - many others have been previously identified in this 2009 research on the Orientation and Integration of Alcohol Policy.
Last year Alcohol Concern also published a Guide to Alcohol for Councillors to help them address alcohol harm within the new landscape. NICE has a comprehensive set of alcohol guidance and quality standards, including alcohol pathways and further tools. NICE have also released Public Health alcohol guidance for local authorities.
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