Health spending must increase, LGA warns

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The Local Government Association (LGA) has called for an increase in public health spending to improve health outcomes.

It came after a think tank warned more strategic, long-term funding is needed to make the nation healthier.

A report by the Health Foundation concluded there had been a shift in spending over the last decade towards acute need rather than on the issues that caused them.

Cllr Ian Hudspeth, chairman of the LGA’s community wellbeing board, said: “Everyone agrees that prevention is better than cure, but as this report highlights, reinvestment in the public health grant is needed to help people live longer, healthier lives and spend less time in hospital.”