Health care in Luton will be in the hands of the council from Monday as a result of the Health and Social Care Bill.
It’s part of major changes to the NHS which mean Primary Care Trusts will no longer be responsible for local healthcare, and it will instead be under control of local authorities.
The council will work closely with Luton’s Clinical Commissioning Group, Luton and Dunstable Hospital and community mental health services.
Gerry Taylor, Director of Public Health in Luton, said: “We want to do everything we can to help local people be as healthy as possible. Luton’s existing difference in health outcomes is unacceptable. Bringing public health back into local government is a chance for us all to make health equality a reality.”
Budgets for public health come from the Department of Health and are set for the next two years. Around £2.66 billion will transfer to local authorities in 2013/14.
The key public health functions for the council from April onwards will include health protection incidents, outbreaks and emergencies, tobacco control, alcohol and drug misuse services, sexual health services, health services for children, community interventions to tackle obesity and NHS health checks.