Budget announced as it prepares for handover from Primary Care Trusts
Hounslow Council will have more than £26 million to tackle public health issues across the borough over the next two years, it has been announced.
From April, the council will take over responsibility from Primary Care Trusts for tackling a wide range of health issues such as smoking, alcohol, obesity, substance abuse and sexual health.
A Government announcement on funding allocations, to support the transferred services, was cancelled in the lead-up to Christmas but the Department of Health last week announced ring-fenced grants for 2013-14 and 2014-15.
Hounslow has been allocated £12.8 million (£48 per head) for 2013/14, rising to £14.1 million (£52 per head) in 2014/15.
Cllr Jagdish Sharma, leader of the council and chair of Hounslow’s Health and Wellbeing Board, said: “We want local people to be physically active, eat well and live longer, healthier lives, as well as trying to make a real impact on childhood obesity across the borough.
“This funding is absolutely vital if we are going to tackle the very real health inequalities across the borough, which have a huge imJanuary 22, 2013dquo;There is already a lot of work being done to improve resident’s health, but from April, the responsibility for a wide range of services passes to us.
“This is a great chance to renew all our efforts to make a real difference to local people’s health.”
January 15, 2013
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