Getting the measure of public health

DH is consulting on how public health outcomes will be measured in the new regime. Amongst ideas to catch the attention of commentators is the proposal that local councils will be paid a “health premium” for effectively addressing public health issues such as smoking and alcohol misuse, along with tackling health inequalities. A separate document on funding and commissioning arrangements offers greater insight on the government’s intentions here. This paper also provides some detail on where specific public health functions will sit, with smoking cessation, public mental health and obesity and physical activity programmes all being given to local authorities, while public health for children under 5 will be within the ambit of Public Health England, who will, initially at least, directly fund the delivery of health visiting services. More detail about health visiting will appear in (yet another) DH paper.