Under government plans, primary care trusts in England will be abolished and GPs given control of the budget.

The shake-up will also mean public health is handed to councils, but the King's Fund health think tank said this could lead the NHS to turn its back on issues like smoking and drinking.

The government said it would be setting out detailed plans for public health in England later this year.

Public health has traditionally been the responsibility of local health managers working for the 151 PCTs. More …