Notes to editors
- The overall public health budget increased between 2016/17 and 2017/18. However, this is affected by changes to what is classed as public health spending – in mid-2015/16 local government took on responsibility for young children’s public health and received a transfer of approximately £400 million from the NHS to fund this (rising to approximately £800 million in subsequent years). This is not growth but a transfer of funds to pay for additional responsibilities. Our analysis of changes in budgets since 2013/14 looks at like-for-like growth excluding the impact of these transfers (ie, excluding budget lines 383 and 384 to the Department for Communities and Local Government revenue account budget). Figures are expressed in nominal cash terms, except where otherwise noted. Real-terms figures are presented at 2016/17 prices using HM Treasury deflators published in March 2017.
- The estimated reduction in public health spending between 2014/15 and 2020/21 is based on a joint analysis from The King’s Fund, Nuffield Trust and the Health Foundation ahead of the 2016 Autumn Statement.
- The trend in spending for individual services does not include inflation or population growth, so the real-terms reduction will be even greater.
- The reductions in planned sexual health budgets have been calculated by combining the planned budgets for sexual health services – promotion, prevention and advice (non-prescribed); sexual health services – STI testing and treatment (prescribed functions); and sexual health services – contraception (prescribed functions).
- While rates of sexually transmitted infections including syphilis and gonorrhoea have increased in recent years, last year saw a slight fall in the gonorrhoea rate.
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The King's Fund is an independent charity working to improve health and care in England. We help to shape policy and practice through research and analysis; develop individuals, teams and organisations; promote understanding of the health and social care system; and bring people together to learn, share knowledge and debate. Our vision is that the best possible health and care is available to all.