‘The health profiles recently published by Public Health England show the scale of the challenge that faces us in Plymouth.  Only four of the 32 indicators are green and for 18 the situation in Plymouth is significantly worse than the national average.

We are currently attempting to address these serious public health issues with an allocation (in 2013/14) of £43 per head.  This compares to the Public Health England (PHE) target figure of £55 per head.  We are underfunded by £12 per head this year.  Plymouth’s funding situation will not improve significantly in 2014/15 as we will still be underfunded by £11 per head (£47 allocation compared to the PHE £58 target).  Even with the two annual 10 per cent uplifts our closing distance from target figure will be minus 19.6 per cent in 2014/15.

When compared with our Office of National Statistics comparators, Plymouth’s poor settlement situation becomes even more apparent.  As already stated, in 2014/15 our per head allocation will be £47.  This compares with, for example, Portsmouth £77, Brighton and Hove £67, Bristol £66 and Southampton £62.  The Public Health England Profiles for these areas reveals that their health indicators appear to be more favourable than those of Plymouth.

The People of Plymouth deserve the best of health and to support this we need fair funding for public health.

We therefore call upon this Council to request that the Leader of the Council write to the Rt Hon Jeremy Hunt MP, Secretary of State for Health and to the Parliamentary Under Secretary for Public Health, Jane Ellison MP to request a meeting with us and our MPs to ensure this funding shortfall is rectified as a matter of urgency.

In addition, the Chief Executive seeks an urgent meeting with Duncan Selbie, Chief Executive of Public Health England to discuss the matter.‘

(a)

the tiered structure of public health with directors, regions, a national board and the Secretary of State together with associated costs; 

(b) 

that the settlement was insufficient to tackle the health inequalities in the city;

(c) 

that support should be enlisted from former members of staff at public health now working at Public Health England.

(1)

the Leader of the Council write to the Rt Hon Jeremy Hunt MP, Secretary of State for Health and to the Parliamentary Under Secretary for Public Health, Jane Ellison MP to request a meeting with the Council and the city’s MPs to ensure this funding shortfall is rectified as a matter of urgency;

(2)

the Chief Executive seeks an urgent meeting with Duncan Selbie, Chief Executive of Public Health England to discuss the matter.