Health
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.
Councils key to tackling 'anti-vax mob'
Councils must act quickly to knock down the ‘anti-vax mob’ as the Government puts the sector at the heart of its strategy to tackle coronavirus, a senior public health chief has urged.
PPE supply for care workers was 'inadequate'
The social care sector was ‘left to fend for itself’ during the darkest days of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to an investigation into supplies of personal protective equipment (PPE).
We need a detailed green recovery map
Nigel Riglar says while the Government’s emphasis on green recovery provides a way to tackle many of the most pressing issues facing us, a coherent policy framework and sufficient investment are key.
Tougher tier system unveiled under COVID winter plan
Every area of England will be placed into a tougher tier-system under the Government’s COVID winter plan, Prime Minister Boris Johnson has announced.
NHS lays out plan for working with councils on mass vaccination
The NHS has started to detail its mass vaccination strategy, outlining how it expects to work with local government.
How to cut debt and fund our social care
A flat-rate health and social care levy to raise £17bn was a centrepiece of a new study last week. Michael Burton looks at the figures and reports from a webinar on the public finances with ex-chancellor Philip Hammond.
Becoming ‘COVID Secure’ at Hertfordshire CC
Scott Crudgington outlines how Hertfordshire CC’s senior management teams are supporting the workforce during the pandemic through an approach that includes a focus on equality and diversity.
The coming weeks are critical for testing
Cllr George Duggins says the roll-out of lateral flow testing is welcome news – but to oversee it council staff need the right support and funding from Central Government.
Councils bid for vaccine role
Councils have made a bid to play a key role in distributing the new coronavirus vaccine.
Report proposes sweeping tax increases
A new health and social care tax raising £17bn should be the centrepiece of sweeping tax increases to raise £40bn a year, according to a new report from think-tank the Resolution Foundation.
Healthy life expectancy target well off track, report finds
The Government is in danger of a lost decade with its target of increasing healthy life expectancy by five years by 2035 well off track, according to a report from right-of-centre think-tank Policy Exchange.
More than 50 councils to receive rapid COVID-19 tests
More than 500,000 rapid COVID-19 tests will be sent to public health authorities this week as part of government plans to roll-out mass testing for the virus.
Get ready for a reset between Brexit and pandemics
Two reports from the IfG this week make for stark reading, just as we begin the second lockdown of the pandemic, says Heather Jameson. But there may be changes afoot to health funding that could mean a big shift
What did we learn from discharging patients into care homes?
A consensus seemed to emerge that the rapid exporting of patients from hospitals without COVID testing was a mistake, says lead member for adult social care at Reading Council Cllr Tony Jones. He asks how we can do better as winter approaches.
Government needs a plan to tackle public service backlog, says IfG
The Government needs a plan to address backlogs in public services caused by the coronavirus crisis, a new report has claimed.
Exclusive: Councils 'Struggling' to deliver on food standards
Some councils are ‘struggling to do even the most urgent and priority’ work on food standards, a government watchdog has told chief executives of local authorities in England.
Youth and BAME jobs hit hardest by lockdown
Young people, BAME workers and those on insecure contracts have lost out most as a result of the changing jobs market during the COVID-19 crisis, says new research from the Resolution Foundation.
Two Scots councils set for level four
Two Scottish local authority areas are in line for a new severe level four lockdown according to a letter from the Scottish government to the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities.
