A spending plan for major public health services relating to contraception, dementia and cardiovascular disease prevention was agreed by Isle of Wight councillors last week.
The adult social care, public health and housing needs committee approved a recommendation to spend up to £2,461,881 over 7 years on Public Health Primary Care Services, including Long-Acting Reversible Contraception (LARC) and NHS Health Checks.
Both services are ‘mandated public health responsibilities’ included in the Health and Social Care Act 2012 and are funded under the terms of the government’s Public Health Grant, according to a council report prepared prior to yesterday’s meeting.
It says:
“Long-Acting Reversible Contraception (LARC) is a public health service commissioned by Isle of Wight Council, as part of the sexual health services alongside contraceptive services provided by GP practices under NHS contracts.
“The NHS Health Check programme is a nationally mandated public health service which aims to prevent cardiovascular disease (CVD) such as heart disease, stroke, type two diabetes, and kidney disease, and raise awareness of dementia both across the population and within high risk and vulnerable groups.
“CVD is responsible for one in four premature deaths (deaths under the age of 75); it is estimated that as much as 85 per cent of CVD related deaths are preventable.”
The report adds that the spending proposal ‘will contribute towards the delivery of the Isle of Wight Public Health Strategy 2025 – 2030 with a focus on prevention to improve the health and wellbeing of Island residents’.
Simon Bryant, the director of public health at Hampshire County Council and Isle of Wight Council, told the committee the plan had been discussed with County Hall’s incoming director of public health, Kate Harvey, who he added was “very satisfied that this is the right approach”.
