Local government leaders have welcomed an official report recommending more autonomy for Integrated Care Systems (ICS) but criticised the Government’s decision not to increase the proportion of resources spent on prevention.
Commenting on the Government’s response to the Hewitt review of ICSs, the Local Government Association (LGA) says it is disappointed that the Government has rejected a recommendation to increase the proportion of resources spent on preventative healthcare by at least 1% over the next five years.
The Hewitt review recommended there should be fewer national targets set for ICSs, set up last year to deliver 'joined up' health and care services and involving a range of participants including the NHS, councils, community and voluntary organisations, and said there should be more emphasis on prevention.
However, in their response the Department of Health and Social Care said: ‘we do not agree with imposing a national expectation of an essentially arbitrary shift in spending.’
The response continued: ‘To support investment in prevention, NHS England and DHSC will work closely with ICSs, local government partners and NICE to develop practical information and evidence to support local investment decisions.’
David Baines, vice-chair of the LGA's community wellbeing board, said the association was 'largely supportive' of the recommendations of the Hewitt review, particularly the reduction of national targets and a clear focus on prevention.
'We are therefore disappointed that the Government has rejected the Hewitt Review suggestion to grow the proportion of funding spent on prevention by 1% per year.
'Historically, prevention has always been overshadowed by the immediate funding challenges for acute and hospital care.
'Without resources specifically earmarked for prevention, we will not see the radical step change in NHS investment that is required to turn the curve on a growing burden of ill-health and long-term conditions.'
CIPFA’s health and social care policy manager, Eleanor Roy, said not earmarking funds for prevention was ‘extremely short-sighted’.
She added there were ‘a few grains of hope’ in the response, but ‘a lack of ambition to confront some key challenges in favour of short-term priorities’.
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