Birmingham given 3% public health funding boost

The funding will be used towards smoking cessation, addiction recovery, health visitors and school nurses, said the council

Public health services in Birmingham will given a 3% funding boost for the upcoming financial year, the government has announced.

The funding will be used for vital services in the city such as smoking cessation, addiction recovery, health visitors and school nurses.

The £108m annual settlement for the city will also be used towards sexual health clinics, and public health support for local NHS services.

Birmingham City Council said the news represented a vote of confidence in the work that had already taken place across the city.

The council said the announcement supported the government's 10-year plan to reduce pressures on the NHS by shifting focus from treatment to local prevention programmes.

It said programmes would be tailored to "reduce health inequalities" and ensure people of ages and backgrounds get access to the health services.

Councillor Mariam Khan said: "This funding will enable us to continue building on the valuable work of Birmingham's public health division, and we look forward to working in collaboration with our partners across our incredible city to improve the health and wellbeing of all citizens."