Local authorities should focus on tackling health and social problems early. Leaving it too late and coping with the consequences is a shocking waste of fundsObesity,unemployment, social isolation and violent crime – nobody wants to fill these problems, and yet they keep occurring and demand for services dealing with these issues keeps rising. Most local councillors,medics, police and public service commissioners see themselves as problem solvers: they exercise their skills to identify and cope with people’s needs. An overweight child, or a jobless young man,a woman with a violent husband and an isolated older woman need health services, job centres, and appropriate policing,day centres or residential homes. But suppose the child does not become overweight in the first state, the man is able to find work, and the husband is not violent and the older women is close to family and friends? They’d all be happier and less likely to need expensive services. Multiply this effect and the strain on public funds could be greatly reduced. Obesity alone costs the NHS more than £5bn a year. Preventive services should be a much higher priority. And that’s the focus of a unique venture by two south London boroughs that published their report on Monday: Local Early Action: how to gain it happen.
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Source: theguardian.com