Health
Pushing for real reform
The pandemic was a game changer for the central/local government relationship, says Joanne Roney, who has started her two-year stint as president of Solace.
We’ll support councils to end homelessness
Last week’s call by the Government for councils to redouble efforts to bring ‘Everyone In’ is timely and essential, says Rick Henderson of Homeless Link.
PM wants councils to ‘lead the fight’ on vaccinations
The Prime Minister has promised councils will receive data on the COVID-19 vaccination programme in their areas within days.
The NHS must harness the strengths of districts
Cllr John Fuller says that while the NHS delivers the vaccinations, districts can 'help shape the ecosystem, build trust through familiar settings, bring in hard to reach communities', and more - 'a partnership in place'.
Warning over integrated care plan
Proposals to merge health bodies into larger regional integrated care systems (ICS) are ‘in danger of missing the real prize of collaborative place-based leadership,’ councils have warned.
Why I refused to support discharging COVID positive patients into our care homes
Leader of Enfield LBC Cllr Nesil Caliskan explains why patients with COVID must not be admitted to the borough’s care homes during the second wave.
Councils asked to 'redouble efforts' on rough sleeping
English councils have been asked to ‘redouble their efforts’ to help accommodate people sleeping rough, with the Government finding an additional £10m funding.
Give local councils freedoms on workforce vaccination
Councils need the freedoms and flexibilities to determine which parts of their workforce should be prioritised for vaccination, whether they fit the official ‘key worker’ definition or not, says Paul Najsarek.
Major incidents over COVID declared
Major incidents have been declared for London, Essex, Sussex, Surrey, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Milton Keynes and Oxfordshire amid fears the rapid rise in COVID-19 cases could overwhelm health services.
Council backs calls for new national lockdown
Liverpool City Council has called on the Government to introduce a new national lockdown to stop the rapid spread of the new strain of coronavirus.
Call for vaccine rollout improvements
Leaders at Telford & Wrekin Council have called for the speed at which vaccinations are being rolled out in the area to be improved.
'Bitter disappointment' greets tiers review
Millions more people are facing tougher restrictions from this weekend in an effort to curb a rise in COVID-19 cases in the east and south east of England.
A well-deserved break for the workforce
Even the Government’s most fervent supporters must admit its response to the pandemic has been muddled, says Michael Burton. In contrast, local government has risen to the challenge.
Where now for the economy?
Uncertainty about the future has reached extreme levels, says Dan Corry. The mystery as to the Government’s instincts on economic and fiscal policy will probably remain, even as Brexit is sorted one way or another and vaccines come on stream.
London enters tier three restrictions
The Government’s timetable for COVID-19 tier reviews has been pre-empted with the imposition of extra restrictions on London, Essex and Hertfordshire.
Care home workers take vaccine priority over NHS
Care home workers have been given top priority in the COVID-19 vaccination programme following a revision of Government guidance.
Care workers given vaccine priority
Social care workers will be among the first to receive the COVID-19 vaccination as early as next week, it has been announced.
Creating good days at work
Tracy Walters explains how the West Midlands Combined Authority has supported the workforce during the pandemic with a holistic approach to health and wellbeing.
Tier three areas offered community testing support
The Government has invited areas in tier three to apply for support for community testing as part of the effort to detect asymptomatic cases of COVID-19.
Casting light on a dark problem
An innovative integrated approach to tackling drug-related harm in Blackpool is achieving promising early results – but significant challenges remain on funding, commissioning cycles and data. Ann McGauran reports.
