Councils diverting public health cash

[Forgotmytiara]

www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-26753121

I stumbled over this and am feeling a bit [shocked] by this tbh.

However, I am not very well informed on he subject or much else due to baby brain and wondered if iabu to be concerned about the fact that quite a few councils spend money that is allocated specifically for local Public Health services on other things?

I'm not shocked, councils are in an impossible position right now. Plus I'd say parks and leisure facilities are essential for some components of public health

I'm biased though as I think a lot of public health campaigns are poor use of money: we all know smoking, drinking and being obese are bad for you.

Councils are spending the money differently to how NHS spent it directly.

Whether it is still targeted effectively, monitored well and intended outcome achieved is a separate question. And a lot will depend on the calibre of the new directors of public health employed by LAs. And who are those people - the consultants in public health medicine employed until recently by NHS.

We all know being obese is bad for you, but so so so many many adults and children are so heavy they can't even walk easily, we all know drinking is bad for you yet so many people drink heavily and destroy their health, we all know smoking is bad... yet people continue and these things cost the NHS a fortune. I imagine that these are far more heavily implicated into poor public health than lack of mown grass in a park. I can't help thinking that LAs are so poorly staffed and underpaid that they should not be let loose on public health, it adds more politics and agenda.