The government plans to shake up the NHS could mean that health issues will be abandoned (prevention) in favour of health care (treatment).

The proposal, due to be published later this year,  is that primary care trusts in England will be abolished and that GP’s will be given control of the budget instead.  Public health issues would become the remit of local councils.  This could mean that the NHS would no longer deal with issues like smoking and drinking.

‘Public Health’ matters have been handled by the NHS through campaigns to encourage people to adopt healthier lifestyles but this will now come under the control of the local councils.

Think tank the Kings Fund – a charity which seeks to understand how the health system in England can be improved – expressed concern that GPs would only be concerned with treating and not preventing ill health.  It also indicated that consortiums of GPs will be in charge of local NHS services instead of primary care trusts.