Public health
Councils fear homelessness ‘tidal wave’
Local authorities are braced for a surge in the number of homeless people as protections put in place for the COVID-19 pandemic are allowed to lapse.
It's time to focus virus 'contain' funding on families and streets
We need to recalibrate and resource the Contain Outbreak Management Fund activity on preparing for a series of hyper-local responses that directly focus on families and streets, says Cllr John Fuller.
Public health commissioning move 'illogical'
A suggestion from the body representing NHS trusts that the commissioning of key public health services should be removed from local government is ‘illogical,’ councils have said.
Councils to receive £400m to tackle COVID-19
The Government has announced funding of £400m for English councils to support COVID-19 test, trace and contain activity.
Tackling the big four vaccine challenges
Tackling inequity in vaccination uptake depends on resolving what Jim McManus calls the big four challenges – and councils’ role is crucial.
Public health chiefs call for more data on jab take-up
Councils still lack the detailed data they need on COVID vaccination take-up to tackle inequities and reduce transmission, public health experts said this week.
Plenty of reasons to be cheerful in the health and care White Paper
Cllr David Fothergill says while many of the 2012 health reforms will now be unwound, local government's responsibility for public health should be the one that remains untouched.
Delay in asking councils to track shielding people
The Government failed to ask councils for help contacting vulnerable shielding people for weeks after lockdown began, it has been claimed.
It’s time for councils to step up and give a lead on care home visiting
Local authorities should support local care homes to find creative ways to open up to relatives, says Claire Fox.
We need to better capture the impact of community power
New Local's latest report forensically and persuasively shows community power works, and now we need to measure it better, says Luca Tiratelli.
Surge testing - Winning hearts and minds in Walsall
Community engagement and reassurance was the overarching approach to Walsall MBC’s rapid roll-out of surge testing, says Stephen Gunther.
Local public health proves its worth in a crisis
COVID has emphasised the importance of public health teams being part of local government, says Professor Maggie Rae. But councils need the resources to address the fallout from this pandemic and prepare for the next one.
Financing health is vital to our futures
Dr Jeanelle de Gruchy says the upcoming Budget is a chance to act on the lessons of COVID-19 – and now is the moment to start building the path towards a healthy recovery.
Making things better
If we had more time to step back and think, and less pressure, what would we be building and how would it be better? Professor Donna Hall asks the question.
Keeping the public and the frontline safe
Councils have worked tirelessly throughout the pandemic, says Cllr James Jamieson, and they want to play a full part in vaccine roll out to the public and to frontline workers
Councils playing leading local role in vaccine rollout, says LGA
Sports stadiums, places of worship and even a former nightclub are among the venues secured by councils to help boost the COVID-19 vaccination rollout, says the Local Government Association.
White Paper plans to radically reform the NHS
Council leaders have warned that local government needs to be an equal partner in the design of any national oversight of social care as the Government publishes its White Paper plans to overhaul the NHS.
Why effective communications is the cornerstone of local government
Leader of Derbyshire CC Barry Lewis outlines why the council took the step of ‘not just retaining a strong communications function, but to invest in it’.
Areas with lowest life expectancy should get more vaccines, says Burnham
Greater supplies of vaccines should be made available in places with the lowest life expectancy, mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, has said.
Self-isolation funds ‘too little, too late’
Funding for council schemes supporting people forced to self-isolate due to COVID-19 do not go far enough, according to new research.
