Jonathan Ashworth MP, Labour’s Shadow Health and Social Care Secretary, responding to the Health Foundation’s calculation that an additional £3.2 billion a year is needed to reverse Government cuts to public health services, said:

“When health inequalities are widening, improvements in life expectancy are stalling and infant mortality is tragically rising, a new approach to prevention and public health is clearly more urgent than ever.

“That’s why in the Commons on Tuesday I demanded Ministers start by reversing these swingeing cuts to public health provision in next week’s Budget.

“Labour will fully fund public health services, establish a new national target to narrow health inequalities and prioritise the health and wellbeing of every child.”