Public health minister Dawn Primarolo this week unveiled a £13.5m package to improve health in disadvantaged areas, and called on local councillors to tackle pockets of poor health.
The cash will help the most deprived areas improve people’s health and break down the barriers between local services, PCTs and local authorities.
The package includes £11m for the Communities for Health scheme – enabling 83 areas to implement local health improvement ideas issues such as parenting, healthy eating, or community activities for young and older people – and £2.5m for Healthy Communities, helping local government improve their knowledge of and ability to tackle health inequalities locally, through leadership and corporate development.
Ms Primarolo (pictured) said: “Poor health intensifies in poor areas. This has serious effects on people’s lives. To help tackle that, I’m releasing a package of £13.5m to help people in the poorest areas.”
