15.06.12
Public health funding distribution recommendations – ACRA
New recommendations on public health funding have been published by the Department of Health.
Local authorities’ funding for public health will be ring fenced from 2013 and the Advisory Committee on Resource Allocation (ACRA) has published independent recommendations about how the spend should be distributed.
The recommendations are to use a formula principally based on a measure of population health that best meets criteria by which resource allocation formulae are determined. Additionally, this measure should be the standardised mortality ratio (SMR) for those aged under 75.
ONS projected resident population for 2012 should be used as the population base, ACRA said.
Health secretary Andrew Lansley said: “This is the first Government to ring-fence public heath funding. The next step is to ensure that funding gets to where it is needed most and can have the greatest impact.
“We are committed to all areas of the country seeing a real terms increase in public health spending, above what PCTs were spending locally. Today’s announcement confirms this.
“Every area of the country is different and has contrasting needs. The interim recommendations published by the independent Advisory Committee on Resource Allocation today provide a solid basis for local authorities to begin planning for next year.”
Tell us what you think – have your say below, or email us directly at [email protected]