The lead responsibility for commissioning substance misuse services now rests with Local Government and, in partnership with the Association of Directors of Public Health, we are shortly to ask each Local Authority to share the progress they are making in improving prevention programmes and rates of drug and alcohol recovery through their expertise and focus on commissioning for outcomes and value for money.
Yesterday we held our first national NHS Health Check conference, attended by 450 delegates from across the country which focused on the implementation and evidence base for undertaking this national prevention programme.
And finally, our nurses and midwives have been focused all week on their contribution to best practice in health protection and are supporting NHS Change Day on 3 March with a campaign pledge.