NHS
Key role for local government vital to vaccination rollout
The sector, through its talented staff, elected representatives and influencers should be fully utilised to guarantee the success of the COVID vaccine rollout, says Allen Graham.
A dose of reality
What will the main challenges be for the sector as local government gears up for a prominent role in new COVID-vaccination strategies? Ann McGauran talks to key figures about the task ahead.
Spending Review: NHS receives £3bn funding boost
The chancellor has announced £18bn will be spent on preventative coronavirus measures next year, including vaccines, testing and personal protective equipment.
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.
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.
Councils bid for vaccine role
Councils have made a bid to play a key role in distributing the new coronavirus vaccine.
Intelligence, tested
Peter Baeck says an enhanced understanding of how to make the most of collective intelligence will ensure public institutions are better placed to respond to the pandemic – and prepare for any others that follow.
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.
The clock is ticking
There is no path to economic recovery that does not involve controlling COVID-19, says Dr Jeanelle de Gruchy. She outlines what needs to be in the plan for the new response phase.
Greater Manchester will move into Tier 3 as talks collapse
Prime Minister Boris Johnson says Greater Manchester will head into Tier 3 restrictions on Friday after talks with local leaders broke up without a deal.
The challenge of health devolution in London
Dick Sorabji, deputy chief executive of London Councils, charts the progress of health devolution in the capital and considers the next steps forward in light of the COVID-19 pandemic
Five ways the cloud can safeguard our NHS
Steve Haines, Managing Director, PSC Health & Care, Civica, discusses the impact of rising cyber attacks and shows five ways the cloud offers the NHS more peace of mind
Don't let the NHS follow care into crisis, warns Hopson
The Government has driven social care into crisis by failing to fund it properly, and the NHS must not face the same fate, health expert Chris Hopson has said.
EXCLUSIVE: Data protection blamed for refusal to share shielded list
Frustrated council officers have blamed data protection for thwarting efforts to help vulnerable people.
Counting the hidden costs of COVID-19
There are a host of hidden costs from COVID-19 that will creep out of the woodwork over time to impact local government, says Chris Buss, leading to a fundamental shift in the way services will be delivered in the future.
Council leaders told to start preparing for self-isolation support scheme
English council leaders have been asked to start preparing to implement financial support for people who are required to self-isolate until the end of January.
A perfect storm for care homes
Councils must now strategically invest in services to help people stay in their own homes and negotiate jointly with their NHS partners to play a bigger role in modern nursing homes, says Iain MacBeath.
People matter more than places
Until we stop obsessing about the process of place and begin to reconnect meaningfully with people where they live, we won’t change anything, says Donna Hall.
Blood out of stone
Opportunities to drive out further efficiencies from councils lie in prevention and integration, but 'will take time and investment and is unlikely to deliver any benefits until the back end of the Spending Review at the earliest', says Tony Kirkham.
Hancock under pressure on anti-obesity plans following PHE closure
Health secretary Matt Hancock is under growing pressure today to say who will take responsibility for the national fight against obesity following his decision to close down Public Health England (PHE).
