Rise in NICs will endanger public health services

‘Money that should be being spent on measures to help reduce avoidable ill health and disease will instead be given back to the government in the form of NICs.’ Photograph: Getty

Your article outlining the extra strain on council budgets that the rise in employers’ national insurance contributions (NICs) will cause highlighted the likely impact on adult and children’s social care services (Adult social care in England needs urgent help from ministers, say bosses, theguardian.com, 6 November).

There will also be a significant impact on public health services, including sexual health and addiction services, health visitors and school nursing. In England, these (and other) vital services are paid for by the public health grant, which is managed by directors of public health. While the NHS has quite rightly been given an exemption to the NIC increase, health services commissioned outside the NHS have not.