Health
Lack of social care plans could ‘destabilise’ reforms
Local authority leaders have warned that the absence of a long-term, fully funded plan for social care could destabilise other health and care reforms.
More than 100 leisure centres could go bust, DCN warns
More than 100 leisure centres in England could go bust due to the coronavirus crisis, district councils have warned.
Javid: Devolution crucial in levelling up
Former local government secretary Sajid Javid has stressed the importance of devolution in the drive towards levelling up the country.
Call for tax hike to fund social care
A commission led by The Lancet and London School of Economics has argued for a 1p increase to income tax, National Insurance and VAT to enable annual funding increases of 4%.
Creating a shared city for all
Coventry is UK City of Culture 2021 and a Marmot City. Martin Reeves and Liz Gaulton explain how a sustainable, accessible and resilient city centre is being built, with a focus on health and wellbeing.
'Health is made at home, hospitals are for repairs'
Lord Nigel Crisp says coalitions of local interest have a vital role when it comes to improving lives. Councils as guardians of places will always have a key part to play, ‘whatever the future arrangements for managing health and social care’.
Town halls told: Don't depend on COVID cash
Councils need to wean themselves of COVID cash to fund social care before it runs out at the end of June, a director has warned.
Shielding scheme took too long to identify up to 800,000, says PAC
MPs have hit out at the Government’s ‘quickly drawn up’ COVID-19 shielding programme for taking too long to identify up to 800,000 people who may have missed out on help.
Sector urged not to give up on health devolution
The sector should not give up on securing future health devolution deals despite the Government’s ‘centralising tendency,’ experts have urged.
Fears over public health 'fragmentation'
The Government’s overhaul of public health has raised fears of a ‘fragmentation’ of the system among councils.
Public health professionals warn against ‘top-down domination’
The Government’s new approach to public health must be locally-led, experts have said.
One year on, councils will be central to recovery
After an extraordinary year, council staff are exhausted, worn down and facing further cuts, says Heather Jameson. But she has no doubt they will continue to rise to the challenge 'whether it is in an office, at home or on a laptop anywhere'.
At the right level
As the heart of the UK's knowledge and biotech economies, Oxford urgently needs urban leadership powers to deliver regional growth crucial to national renewal and recovery, writes Jonathan Werran.
Hancock's half hour to ease sector concerns
Health and social care secretary Matt Hancock has attempted to ease local government concerns about far-reaching NHS legislation plans.
National Test and Trace failed to draw on councils' expertise
MPs have questioned the impact of the NHS Test and Trace programme and urged it to collaborate more with local authorities.
Local scrutiny should stay embedded in the local community
Local scrutiny can and must play an ongoing and supportive role relating to the Secretary of State’s new powers as outlined in the recent white paper for NHS and social care reform, says Ed Hammond.
Health and care White Paper sends 'wrong message'
Further regulation and intervention will not improve social care, the Local Government Association (LGA) has warned.
Our chance is now on climate change
The penalty for not using our new pandemic mindset doesn’t bear thinking about, says Gill Kneller. 'With climate change, there won’t be another chance. Our chance is now', she adds.
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.
Councils call for extra cash for expanded shielding list
Councils have called for more access to data and extra cash to deal with sharp spike in the number of people shielding from coronavirus.
