Political Opinion: £1.5 Million local health funding boost
Local people will benefit from another £1.5 million government funding boost for public health. The news has been warmly welcomed by Alex Mayer MP.
Public health funding across Central Bedfordshire is rising to £16.7 million, a 10 per cent increase on last year. Overall investment is now a quarter higher than in the final year of the previous Conservative government.
The cash is for initiatives such as stop smoking schemes, sexual health clinics, support to manage weight and school nurses. It’s targeted at preventing disease and helping people stay healthy. The plan is to tackle the root causes of ill health and build stronger, healthier communities.
Local MP Alex Mayer said: “This £1.5 million investment will strengthen local services and stop ill health before it starts.
It is about helping a Dunstable dad quit smoking, a Leighton Buzzard resident access support to lose weight, or a Houghton Regis kid see the school nurse.
If we can reach people earlier and help them stay healthy, this extra investment will pay for itself several times over in reduced demand on our NHS and by keeping people in work.
After a decade of public health budgets being run down under the previous government, this latest investment shows how a Labour government backing our public services again.”