Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 18
18
Accepted
NHSE relies on local partners to reach harder-to-reach communities for health initiatives.
Conclusion
NHSE informed us that it relies on primary care networks working with their local ICBs to identify harder to reach cohorts. It accepted that local authorities often have better links into communities than NHS bodies. It said many lessons were learned from the COVID-19 vaccination campaign about where take up was good and not so good, and how to reach populations that were not proactively coming forward.31 In its written submission to this 26 Q8 27 Q 9 28 Q 77 29 Q 45 30 Coronavirus and vaccine hesitancy, Great Britain - Office for National Statistics 31 Qq 45, 46 12 inquiry, NHS Providers noted that addressing the wider determinants of health had to involve specific targeted improvements in the most deprived areas to tackle health inequalities.32 32 NFS0012 13 2 Three big shifts required for the long-term sustainability of the NHS
Government Response Summary
The government states that NHS funding allocations already account for deprivation and health inequalities, and that NHSE regularly reviews the formula used to set allocations, noting evidence that NHSE investment is reaching those most in need.
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
4.2 NHS funding allocations (including for primary care) already take account of deprivation and health inequalities. Areas with populations of relatively greater deprivation and higher premature mortality receive a relatively higher level of funding to recognize greater need and help tackle health inequalities, for example through supporting outreach activity. 4.3 NHSE regularly reviews and updates the formula used to set allocations and will do so again ahead of setting financial allocations for 2026-27. 4.4 There is also evidence that NHSE investment in a range of interventions is reaching those most in need of help, for example: • Targeted Lung Health Checks programme, which seeks to diagnose lung cancer at an early stage, has now invited nearly 30% of the eligible population and is diagnosing around 200 cancers per month, 75% at an early stage. The Rapid Cancer Registration Dataset shows that people from disadvantaged backgrounds are now most likely to be diagnosed with lung cancer at an early stage. • Early intervention in mental health: 44% of pupils and learners have access to Mental Health Support Teams as of Spring 2024, exceeding the original commitment to cover 20%-25% of the country and 50% coverage is expected in Spring 2025.