Localis’s Steven Howell took part in a Guardian Local Leaders live discussion on where next for public health?
There are many questions still to be answered about the reforms to the healthcare system. Fully integrated healthcare is a game successive governments have tried and failed to win. In order to achieve more effective integration, Localis’ report recommends a presumption in favour of data sharing, and a review of the Health and Wellbeing Boards to give them greater clout.
At first glance, the findings of the latest report from thinktank Localis could be dismissed as head-smackingly obvious. According to analysis of the transition of public health from NHS to council control, 96% of local authorities believe they will be able to improve the health of local residents. In short: councils think they do a good job. Well I never.
Using the form, councils can benchmark their boards against what it describes as four stages of board development: the ?young?, ?established?, ?mature? and ?exemplar? health and wellbeing board.
As Parliament returns, local authorities’ attention naturally turns to the next strategic review and the challenges it will bring. For all of us involved in the sector it seems clear the challenge to do more while spending less will remain uppermost.
A change to freedom of information laws could present a significant revenue opportunity for councils, a former adviser to the Information Commissioner’s Office has claimed.
The arguments in its favour are pretty well settled and furthermore are cross-party ? so whatever government is in power, integration will be top of the agenda.
The report, entitled In Sickness and in Health, was launched on 3 September by care minister Norman Lamb and recommends the Government looks at how the new health system is working in 2015, with particular regard to health and wellbeing boards.
Local government should be given complete responsibility for health commissioning if health and wellbeing boards fail in their scrutiny role, according to a new study of health and care.
Another week, and another report provides a reminder of how local government is changing. The report In Sickness and in Health from the independent thinktank Localis reflects the growing recognition of local government’s role ? working hand-in-hand with health commissioners, healthcare providers and local communities ? in driving better health outcomes.