MPs have raised concern about emergency public health liabilities and accountability issues in the new local government health responsibilities.
A report by the Communities and Local Government Committee questions the complex accountability mechanisms of the system – including that for health and wellbeing boards (HWB) - and a lack of clarity about the responsibility of local government during national public health emergencies.
Committee chair, Clive Betts, said: ‘Without clarity there is only confusion, and a health emergency is no muddle. The Government must set out unambiguously the lines of responsibility, and it must do so as a matter of urgency.'
The committee claimed the reformed system does not classify the HWB responsibilities, as they draw up strategies local Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCG) should take account of and implement.
David Buck, senior fellow in public health and health inequalities, told The MJ that new quango Public Health England should have beefed up powers to support councils.
‘It's role in accountability isn't strong enough. There hasn't been a central unit before, and the evidence suggests local authorities might use it as a mouthpiece for their concerns.'
The news comes as Blackburn and Darwen Council formed a partnership with the CCG to draw up priorities from the health and wellbeing strategy for shared decision-making.
Dr Chris Clayton, CCG clinical chief officer, said: ‘Health and social care must be about patients, not organisations, and by working together we will be able to make it easier for people to access services.'
The council's Care Trust Plus scheme –wound down under the devolved health agenda – has already implemented joined-up working between council and the local NHS Trust, delivering £2m in savings through senior management integration.
Mr Betts said: ‘The purpose of localism is not only to devolve decision making, but to make it accountable to local people. But the new arrangements are shared across several bodies.
‘The result is that lines of local accountability are blurred.'
