The Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) has spoken out against the Government’s plans to reduce public health grants by £200 million across England.

The RPS English Board is strongly opposed to the plans and has backed a reversal of the decision to cut public health allocations for 2015/16, instead calling for the grant to be ring-fenced and protected against any future reductions.

Talking about the how public health grants aid local healthcare providers, chair of the RPS English Pharmacy Board Sandra Gidley said: “Services designed to fight obesity, poor diet, smoking, lack of exercise and excessive alcohol consumption in communities around the country are all supported by this grant and all will be severely impacted if this proposed cut goes ahead.”

She added: “We also believe the proposed grant reduction completely contradicts the public health improvement vision set out in NHS England’s Five Year Forward View and that disinvestment will lead to long-term increase in NHS costs.

“The RPS English Board would like to see the government strengthening public health provision rather than curtailing spending in this vital area, enabling the skills of community and ‘healthy living’ pharmacies to fulfil their key role in supporting the public’s health.”