Five major health bodies and the Local Government Association (LGA) have set out a shared position on the Government's crucial reform of public health across England.

In a joint statement issued at this week's National Children and Adult Services Conference (NCASC), the group set out 12 areas of agreement on the Government plan to return key areas of health to local government by 2013 – including aspects of the proposed reforms that ‘need further consideration' to be successful.

These include concerns that Public Health England, the body designed to provide expert support to central and local government on health, could become a ‘cuckoo in the nest' - draining resources from the local public health system.

Cllr David Rogers, chairman of the LGA's GP and Public Health Stakeholder Group, said: ‘There's a lack of clarity as the Health and Social Care Bill proceeds through parliament, so there's a sense that people know big changes are coming but do not yet know all the details.

‘With so many ‘unknowns' and important parts of the jigsaw missing it is difficult for councils to take decisive action and forge ahead with local plans.'

The LGA teamed up with the British Medical Association, Faculty of Public Health, Association of Directors of Public Health, NHS Confederation and the Royal College of Midwives to issue the joint statement on 21 October.

Professor Lindsey Davies, president of the Faculty of Public Health, said: ‘At such a challenging time for the NHS and local authorities, the Faculty of Public Health is delighted to be part of this joint agreement to help secure a safe and effective public health system.'

Other recommendations include giving councils local flexibility on their health need arrangements and giving local authorities carrying out public health functions for the health service the ability to act as, and have the power of, NHS bodies and access to appropriate NHS systems.

The statement suggests funding for Public Health England and local authorities needs to be determined on the basis of health need.

The group recommends that councils consider collaborating with neighbouring authorities to deliver local services, including jointly appointing a director of Public Health where appropriate. It also calls for the creation of an integrated model for the new public health system, through which large local authorities can host a sub-national function on behalf of Public Health England.