Investment in Public Health makes good financial sense for local councils

Local councils can expect good financial returns if they invest in the right public health interventions, The King’s Trust has said.

The charity, which works to improve health and health care in England, has said sensible investments in community opportunities can improve life for local people and create economic benefits for councils.

In a new set of resources published by the charity, specific local success stories have been included to demonstrate the financial possibility of good public health investment for local councils, after responsibility for public health was transferred to local government in April.

David Buck, senior fellow, Public Health and Inequalities at The King’s Fund, said: “Local authorities have a proud history of meeting crucial public health challenges and know better than most that improving health is not just about what happens in the NHS.

“As councils continue to face the most severe financial challenge in their history, there is a compelling business case for putting public health at the top of the local government agenda.

“But it is not always clear where investment will be most effective. In straitened times, we hope these resources will make it easier for local leaders to prioritise those areas where action will have the greatest benefit to communities.”

Included in the report were nine Public Health areas that needed improvement, which included ensuring more homes are warmer during the winter by insulating private rented and owner-occupied homes.

Also included in the report was the success story of Birmingham City Council praised for its assessment of two housing led programmes which showed the council had created £24m of savings a year by investing £12m into interventions to make improvements such as reducing falls among older people and minimising problems caused by excess cold .

The King’s Trust has said investment in Public Health will improve both the wellbeing of more people in the community, and create economic benefits for local councils.