A COUNCIL health boss has rubbished the new NHS Long Term Plan as “nonsense”.

Blackburn with Darwen Council executive member for health Cllr Brian Taylor criticised cuts to public health budgets proposed as part of the plan announced earlier this week.

He said: “Matt Hancock has somewhat confused me with this plan.

"He talks about prevention but then he cuts public health by £89million in 2019/20.

“I notice he is putting money into hospitals to fund alcohol treatment but it is too late when people are already in a hospital bed.

“We should have universal services that prevent people from getting that far. It is nonsense.”

The NHS Long Term Plan is a new plan for the NHS to improve the quality of patient care and health outcomes.

It sets out how the £20.5billion budget settlement for the NHS, announced by the Prime Minister in summer 2018 will be spent over the next five years.

The plan includes measures to improve out-of-hospital care, supporting primary medical and community health services and ensure all children get the best start in life by continuing to improve maternity safety, including halving the number of stillbirths, maternal and neonatal deaths and serious brain injury by 2025.

Bosses say it will support older people through more personalised care and stronger community and primary care services and make digital health services a mainstream part of the NHS, so that in five years, patients in England will be able to access a digital GP offer.

Health and Social Care Secretary Mr Hancock said: “The NHS Long Term Plan, backed by a historic commitment of an extra £20.5billion a year from taxpayers, marks an important moment not just for the health service but for the lives of millions of patients and hardworking NHS staff across the country.

“Whether it’s treating ever more people in their communities, using the latest technology to tackle preventable diseases, or giving every baby the very best start in life, this government has given the NHS the multi-billion-pound investment needed to nurture and safeguard our nation’s health service for generations to come.”