Live discussion: councils preparing for public health
Author: The Guardian, Local Government Network |
Localis’ Senior Policy Officer, Steven Howell, participated in a Guardian online debate on the upcoming transfer of public health to local authorities.
Comments revolved around the opportunities on offer given a return to arrangements that were in existance before the 1970s reforms, where greater integration needs to occur and the need for relationship building between health professionals and the rest of local government.
Other participants included:
Edward Davie is a Lambeth councillor, chair of Lambeth’s health scrutiny committee and communications officer for National Survivor User Network.
Jo Webber is interim director of policy at the NHS Confederation.
Diane Abbott is Labour MP for Hackney North and Stoke Newington and shadow minister for public health.
Ben Page is chief executive of Ipsos MORI market research.
Helen Walters is the health improvement programme director at the Greater London Authority.
Jonathan McShane sits on the the Local Government Association community wellbeing board, leading on sexual health and public health services. He is a councillor in Hackney, east London.
Mary Black is a medical doctor, a consultant in public health and director of public health designate for the London borough of Havering.
Please click here to read the full debate
The Guardian will publish a summary of the debate shortly.