Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt has announced that £5.45bn will be given to local authorities over the next two years to promote health and prevention of illness.
The money, which is being ringfenced for the first time, is to be divided up depending on health outcomes, with areas with the greatest needs receiving more money.
Funding is to be specifically targeted at those areas with the worst health outcomes, building on advice from the Advisory Committee on Resource Allocation (ACRA).
Just under £2.7bn will be made available in 2013/14, with the remaining £2.75bn to come during 2014/15.
Hunt said: “Too many people die too early from diseases that can be prevented. I want more people to be able to look forward to an independent and active old age and developing high quality public health services is essential to make this a reality.
“Today’s announcement is a major investment and a step toward securing these services for the areas that need them most.”
'Prevention is key'
Alzheimer’s Society’s policy manager Louise Lakey said of the news: “It is vital that when it comes to people’s health, we aren’t simply closing the gate after the horse has bolted.
“Promoting health and prevention of illness is an important way of improving quality of life as well as saving the NHS millions."
Joe Korner, Stroke Association’s director of communications, agreed. "There are around 152,000 strokes a year in the UK but with advice and support, many of these are preventable," he said.
"For example, if more people knew about the dangers of high blood pressure, over 40 per cent of strokes could be prevented by making lifestyle changes like stopping smoking, doing more exercise and eating healthier diets.
"So Stroke Association welcomes this budget allocation."
Neerja Jain, health improvements project manager for Kidney Research UK, described the move as a positive step forward.
"Kidney disease has reached epidemic levels in the UK with over three million people at risk of the illness," she said. "If local authorities are to succeed in improving early diagnosis and providing better patient care, they need to work more closely with charities like Kidney Research UK who have the expertise in reaching local communities and at-risk groups on a peer-to-peer level."
