Public health cut fears

CONCERNS have been raised about public health services in County Durham as council bosses prepare to face the highest grant funding cuts in England.

The County Council’s Health and Wellbeing Board heard about proposed changes to public health funding.

Government proposals include a shift from ringfenced grants to 75% busi- ness rate retention in April 2020.

As part of the process, a new funding formula will decide the amount of public health funds for each council with £40m expected to be cut across 12 North East local authorities.

However, current predictions suggest Durham County Council will lose nearly half of this figure with £19m in cuts - a 38% 2017/18.

“We’re the worst affected local authority in England,” director of public health for the council, Amanda Healy, told health bosses.

“All of our North East authorities will see a reduction and it varies across all local authorities but overall there is a shift from areas of inequality to areas of affluence.” reduction on