Public health
Government prepares care homes for coronavirus surge
Councils will be asked to ‘take strong action’ against care homes that ignore new restrictions on movement as part of the Government’s winter plan for the sector.
‘Let’s place our trust in the local’, urges Archbishop of Canterbury
The Archbishop of Canterbury has today urged the Government to follow the clergy’s historic commitment to ‘localism’ rather than ‘determining the daily details of our lives’.
Before reorganisation we need a clear view of the sector's core purpose
How local government 'can sensibly be reorganised without a clear view of its core purpose (will adult social care services be in or out?) or funding mechanisms' is baffling Abdool Kara.
Time 'lost' when centre and local at odds over COVID
Effective global responses to COVID-19 depend on local leadership as the 'critical convenor' and time is lost when national and local authorities are ‘at odds with each other’, according to international policy experts.
More cash is vital for local contact tracing
Mayor of Lewisham Damien Egan says expanding local contact tracing is challenging, and restoring the national public health grant to at least 2015/16 funding levels would allow the council to build capacity.
Whole-place approach for a COVID-ready city
Globally, it has been shown that local leadership is the critical convenor in effective responses to COVID-19, say David Nabarro and John Atkinson, adding that time is lost where national and local authorities are at odds with each other.
Doing our best for Calderdale’s kids
Robin Tuddenham says a cautious approach to schools opening earlier in the year has made the full return of pupils this month ‘a collaborative effort built upon respect’.
Rising to the back-to-school challenge
Newham is anticipating an increase in demand for services as schools return, says Tim Aldridge, and COVID-19 has thrown a spotlight on existing inequalities.
Is COVID a catalyst for systemic change within care?
London has the highest COVID-19 care home death rate of any UK region. Dr Onkar Sahota says it is crucial the £600m Infection Control Fund reaches the frontline.
Care home lockdowns on rise
A growing number of councils have imposed lockdowns on care homes in response to rising numbers of coronavirus cases.
How do we get safe track and trace?
Councils’ work to keep communities safe in the months ahead will be remembered, says Pascale Robinson – 'and it will be clear in the years to come who called for a safe, locally led track and trace'.
New gatherings limit welcomed by director
The Government’s decision to tighten English laws to ban nearly all gatherings of more than six people has been welcomed by a public health director.
We must rapidly improve Test and Trace
If we want to prevent more avoidable mortality in a second pandemic wave this winter ‘we are going to have to rapidly improve the way the system works’, says Dominic Harrison.
Stretched testing capacity to be scaled up
Brand new large-scale technology to increase the number of coronavirus tests that can be processed is being introduced as demand continues to rise.
The restructure we require is not to be found in our town halls
The devolution White Paper will reveal Boris Johnson's 'northern growth body'. But this will have a fatal flaw as its creator is Whitehall, writes Sarah Longlands.
COVID-19: A lesson from Italy
Dr Arianna Giovannini says that while Italy's approach to tackling COVID-19 is not perfect, its model 'can have a much more positive effect on policy decisions and crisis management than centralised, place-blind responses'.
Councils should be at the centre of a renewed push on public health
Councils must be at the heart of a new, reinvigorated national push on improving public health provision and their funding for this must rise in line with the NHS budget, says Cllr Sir Ray Puddifoot.
Tackling inequalities is everyone’s business in Birmingham
Tomorrow’s report to Birmingham City Council’s Cabinet makes it clear that tackling inequalities is everyone’s battle and everyone’s business, says Cllr John Cotton.
Councils v Coronavirus: plan beats no plan
Coronavirus scenario planning exercises with councils have revealed insights into the types of decisions local leaders will need to take to support their communities, says Robert Pollock.
Reform of Public Health England is a future of work question
Local areas should be ‘empowered and equipped to respond to the more familiar and endogenous drivers of health inequalities’ including access to good work, says Dr Abigail Gilbert.
