Health
Councils in fresh NHS warning
The Local Government Association (LGA) has issued a fresh warning that the NHS must not forget councils as it embarks on its Long Term Plan.
‘We want something totally transformational’
A new book from Nesta brings together knowledge on innovatation. One process is the 100 Day Challenge. Ann McGauran outlines how this has been useful in bringing about system change in Essex.
Social workers have a key role in helping disabled people get more active
An evaluation of the Get Yourself Active programme, which sought to identify ways to boost participation of disabled people in sport and physical activity, has concluded that social workers have a key role to play, says Leanne Wightman
Councils transfer services amid healthcare trust closure
A healthcare trust running care services across two counties has announced it is likely to close.
Remove immigration policy from the Home Office
Immigration policy is a mess, says Michael Burton - and has led to pay minimums which ignore big labour shortages in lower-paid public services. The Home Office is no longer the right ministry to manage such a cross-sector role, he concludes.
Call for outcome focus as DToC pressure reduces
Health and social care systems should increase their focus on outcomes for individuals as Whitehall softens its threats around delayed transfer of care (DToC) figures, a report today has suggested.
Hold on to public health
Shifting public health functions to councils has led to ‘clear progress and tangible success,’ says Cllr David Williams - and he warns it would be a retrograde step if NHS England took back some elements of commissioning.
How does public spending break down?
The latest annual statement from HMRC reveals how little leeway the chancellor has when it comes to planning the next Spending Review, says Mike Burton.
Don't ignore the work of the districts on social prescribing
When announcing new social prescribers the Government ignored the progress being made in district councils and has created a parallel competing bureaucracy, says Cllr John Fuller.
Edinburgh facing £30m health and care cuts
Health and social care services in Edinburgh would be ‘jeopardised’ by proposed funding shortfalls, it has been claimed.
Council calls for Hancock intervention
Telford & Wrekin Council has called for health secretary Matt Hancock to urgently intervene in a decision to reconfigure hospital services.
Think-tank: Give councils powers of abolished DWP
Councils and their health and education partners should be handed responsibility for supporting ‘harder-to-help’ groups into employment, a report by think-tank Demos has suggested.
Number of night-time hospital discharges increases
Rising numbers of elderly and vulnerable patients are being sent home from hospital at night despite calls to stop the practice, it has emerged.
Future Forum North: May's Brexit deal will leave UK worse off economically
It is undeniable that the UK will be worse off economically under prime minister Theresa May’s proposed Brexit deal, the director of the Institute for Fiscal Studies think-tank has said.
Council fined £27,000 over Legionella case
A district council has pleaded guilty to a health and safety breach after a leisure centre customer contracted Legionnaire’s Disease.
Future Forum North: Authenticity key in chief role
A top local government recruiter has encouraged council chief executives to be authentic.
Public health progress put at risk by cuts
The Government must restore councils’ public health grants because of their important role in the urgent task of improving public health, according to a report from leading health think tank, The King’s Fund.
The extra-ordinary people doing extraordinary things
The individual councillors celebrated in the LGiU C’llr Achievement Awards are part of the glue that holds civic life together, says Dr Jonathan Carr-West
'Long way to go on integration' - audit
There is still a ‘long way to go’ to achieve integrated health and social care in Scotland, an audit report has found.
Hodge hits out at funding as he steps down from Surrey
Surrey CC leader, Cllr David Hodge has hit out at the Government for doling out cash to the NHS while cutting council budgets.