NHS
Government 'failed to prepare' on PPE, say MPs
The Government has failed to ensure there is enough personal protective equipment (PPE) in the event of a second wave of coronavirus, a watchdog warned today.
Let's hold on to what we've learned
John O'Brien says that for 'all of the enormous and well documented challenges, people at the local government front line have achieved remarkable things at pace and scale'. We must hold on to what has been learned, he adds.
Who are the losers?
At least in terms of public opinion, local government itself has come out of the pandemic crisis better than the civil service, says Ben Page – with 55% saying local authorities did a good job compared to 47% for the civil service.
NHS chief calls for social care reforms within a year
Sir Simon Stevens has called for a solution to properly fund adult social care to be brought forward within the next year.
Fighting for everyone’s rights
Cllr Gavin Harding MBE became the first person with a learning disability to be employed by NHS England. He says councils could do more to employ learning-disabled people in ‘serious roles’. Ann McGauran reports.
Digital engines – the ‘new normal’ in local government?
Digital engines will become a staple of every local authority’s digital provision moving forward into the ‘new normal’, says John McMahon.
Hand health powers to elected mayors, says report
Health powers should be handed to elected mayors as part of a ‘rejuvenated and fortified wave of devolution,’ a think-tank report has suggested.
EXCLUSIVE: Fresh demand for modelling data
Ministers this week came under renewed pressure to share the Government’s latest coronavirus predictions and modelling to help local areas plan for the months ahead.
Combined authority 'spending reserves like it's going out of fashion'
Greater Manchester Combined Authority’s chief executive has expressed doubts about whether his region would be able to cope with a second wave of coronavirus infections.
The value of local leadership
Local outbreak plans are due to be in place by the end of June. Professor Jim McManus asks how are they shaping up, and outlines the principles that define a good plan. Too many questions remain about the idea of 'local lockdowns', he adds.
Pickup decries 'lack of focus' on social care
The Government failed to pay enough attention to social care at the beginning of the coronavirus crisis, Local Government Association deputy chief executive, Sarah Pickup, has said.
Leisure centre closures threaten the drive to boost the nation’s health
Health secretary Matt Hancock does not want to be in the awkward position of calling on better prevention to reduce demand on the NHS just as leisure centres across the land are closing their doors, says Michael Burton.
Council criticises shielding relaxation
Bradford City Council has warned that easing shielding restrictions in England for vulnerable and high-risk people could put lives at risk.
Councils must challenge Government fearlessly for pandemic cash
Local government needs to reach out to others to support a campaign for Government to meet its duty to fund local authority shortfalls, says John Tizard.
Care after coronavirus
Magda Stainton looks at what local authority adult social care needs to do to be sustainable in the ‘new normal’ life after COVID-19, and outlines how interim and permanent recruitment specialists can help them get there.
Taking those first steps back from crisis
In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic what we don’t know far outweighs what we do, say Darra Singh and Aidan Rave. But they believe some emerging indicators will create a framework that could well guide the ‘post-crisis order’.
Let’s remake the state
The state is a centralised, broken mess, says Professor Donna Hall. Instead of getting the public behind a common enemy, we should be harnessing public anger to reimagine local public services.
Local lockdown powers up in the air
Council powers over calling a local lockdown are still to be thrashed out as the NHS’ test and trace system is formally launched.
The power of local systems to save lives
The money announced for testing, tracking and tracing is welcome, but it will be pretty thinly spread across local government, argues Professor Donna Hall. Councils need to be properly funded to do this properly.
The transformative power of collaboration in a crisis
Bickering, arguments and tribalism were swept away when the COVID-19 emergency struck Essex, with partners galvanised by a common purpose, writes Gavin Jones.
