Report delivers mixed verdict on Public Health England’s spending efficiency

The National Audit Office has published a report assessing Public Health England's efforts to support local authorities with their new health responsibilities, delivering an overall mixed verdict.

According to the audit, the healthcare authority has made "a good start" in allocating its 2.7 billion pound ring-fenced grant to local councils to carry out their new public health functions, providing them with advice and evidence on what works.

However, the agency has encountered some problems with the accuracy of how local authorities record what has been spent on public health, Moreover, examples were found where spending decisions were not obviously aligned to local needs and priorities.

Currently, it is too soon to tell whether the agency's approach is achieving value for money. Its strategy will be tested even further should the grant cease to be ring-fenced in future.

Amyas Morse, head of the National Audit Office, said: "There is a difficult balance to be struck between localism and the agency's responsibility for improving health."

Public Health England was established on April 1st 2013 to bring together public health specialists from more than 70 organisations into a single public health service. It employs 5,000 staff, including scientists, researchers and public health professionals.