Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 20
20
Deferred
Progress on health prevention hindered by acute care focus and reduced public health grants.
Conclusion
Senior ICB leaders reported to the National Audit Office a continued lack of progress with the government’s long-standing aim to move towards preventing ill health rather than treating it. One of the most important reasons cited by ICBs has been the focus on other pressing national priorities, particularly elective care backlogs and acute services, which has meant they have had little additional headroom to grow preventative services as they would have wanted to.34 The public health grant used by local authorities to commission preventative measures such as health visiting and drug and alcohol services is expected to fall by £193 million (5%) between 2022–23 and 2024–25 (at 2022–23 prices), despite government’s commitment in the 2021 spending review to maintain it in real terms.35
Government Response Summary
The government states that measures for supporting the prevention shift are being considered in context of the work of the 10 Year Health Plan.
Government Response
Deferred
HM Government
Deferred
5.4 Prevention is one of the 'three shifts' the Secretary of State has set out as strategic ambitions for the health systemin England. Measures for supporting the prevention shift are being considered in context of the work of the 10 Year Health Plan. The government does not wish to pre-empt the content of the 10 Year Health Plan. However, notwithstanding this, defining health prevention spend could be an enabler of the shift from sickness to prevention, and so this recommendation will be considered in the context of developing the 10 Year Health Plan. The Committee will be notified of the response to this recommendation when it is confirmed.