NHS
Health Bill could lead to more centralisation, claims commission
The Health and Care Bill could lead to a more centralised system, a cross-party commission has claimed.
Local lockdowns not ruled out beyond July 19
Local lockdowns are still a possibility if COVID variants of concern emerge after restrictions ease on July 19.
Chief execs – a vital part of change
The strategic leadership role of council chief executives in wider health and care systems is often under-appreciated, says Paul Najsarek, but if the Government wants to deliver meaningful change then they will have a crucial role to play.
Councils 'broadly support' focus of Health and Care Bill
Councils ‘broadly support’ the focus of the Health and Care Bill introduced into Parliament today on improving the health and wellbeing of the population, says the Local Government Association (LGA).
Counties can do the strategic and the local
The strategic abilities of local government to deliver national priorities locally and the real localism counties have shown could be a positive pandemic legacy, says Cllr Tim Oliver.
A diverse approach to tackling vaccine hesitancy
Cllr Khtija Malik outlines Luton’s multi-layered approach to tackling vaccine hesitancy within some communities, and says more help is needed from the Government to help the town bounce back from the ravages of the pandemic.
Councils need more data for test and trace, says watchdog
Local authorities’ involvement in test and trace has improved the service – but councils still need more data, the National Audit Office (NAO) has said.
HMJ: Unlocking the power of communities
Luca Tiratelli, senior policy researcher at New Local, argues the remedy for healthcare’s challenges is community power as it prevents problems from occurring in the first place
ICS blueprint sparks fears over ‘diluted’ partnerships
There is a risk the new integrated care system (ICS) partnership could have a more ‘diluted’ role than the NHS body, the NHS Confederation has said.
Commission calls for local government to chair ICS partnerships
Local government leaders or metro mayors should chair Integrated care systems (ICSs) partnerships, according to a new report from the cross-party Health Devolution Commission.
Budgeting in volatile times
As we transition to a post-COVID world, councils are going to have to ‘learn quickly in real time’ how to handle levels of demand and price volatility never seen before in the sector, says Gary Fielding.
What next for the social care market?
Martin Samuels sets out five principles we can draw on in creating a sustainable market in social care and says we must not allow fear to stop us moving forward.
Squeezing the balloon
Resources for social care are down and demand is pent up and rising says Iain MacBeath, but now must be the time to realise people’s ambitions for more flexible personalised support.
Care for life
Claims the Government put a protective shield around care homes were ‘complete nonsense,’ according to Dominic Cummings. Martin Green says the focus being on the NHS ‘wreaked havoc, destruction and sadly many avoidable deaths’.
Staff burnout in social care and health at 'emergency level'
Workforce burnout in social care and the NHS has reached an ‘emergency level’, MPs have warned today.
Health spending rises by record quarter
Spending on taxpayer-funded health services rose by a record 25% to £220bn last year as the NHS battled with pandemic costs, according to latest estimates from the Office for National Statistics (ONS).
The pandemic has proven our mettle
As a ‘mature’ integrated care system West Yorkshire and Harrogate Health and Care Partnership has already led to positive changes in many services, says Rob Webster.
Can the centre learn the lessons of lockdown in time?
Despite the Prime Minister’s latest protestations that we are right on track for the roadmap, the 21 June is starting to feel like an impossible dream, says Heather Jameson.
Burnham calls for Labour push on devolution
Greater Manchester mayor Andy Burnham has called on his party to provide ‘wholehearted support for true devolution’.
Social care at the crossroads ...again
The integration White Paper leaves questions unanswered on how the duty of councils and the NHS to collaborate would work in practice, says CIPFA’s health and social care policy manager Eleanor Roy.
