Underfunding public health has wide ranging consequences

The UK parliament returns this week, with the government facing several major challenges. High among these is the dire financial shortfall experienced by local authorities (doi:10.1136/bmj.q1699).1 An estimated £6bn funding deficit is seriously affecting local communities, leading to poorer population health and adding pressure on the NHS.GPs in particular are left to deal with the problems resulting from fewer community services, such the loss of smoking cessation or sexual health clinics, a lack of early years support, or substandard housing. Afiniki Akanet says that this is leading to a rise of “utter hopelessness” among her patients, who are coming to see her with problems that community services would previously have picked up (doi:10.1136/bmj.q1699).1Ayan Panja, a GP in St Albans, warns that GPs “have no magic wand for social issues” (doi:10.1136/bmj.q1699).1 Additional demands outside the usual remit of primary care are placing extra burdens on GPs, who already see more patients…
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