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.
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.
Now councils have a major new role in public health, they once again have the chance, as Ringo Starr didn’t quite put it, to help their residents feel better at the end of the day.
I’ve always liked autumn ? the end of the blazing summer sunshine, splashing through leaves, the shorter days making home and hearth just that little bit cosier. And of course, in recent years, the unparalleled joys of party conference season.
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 think-tank Localis today launches a major new report, ‘In Sickness and in Health’, which assesses the recent move to a more localist health system and uncovers a real spirit of optimism in local government, with 96% believing that their council will improve the health of their residents.
Localis chief executive, Alex Thomson, appeared on the BBC World Tonight programme this evening, speaking about the future of local government and new ways of doing things.
Local government chiefs have urged national tax authorities be as efficient in collecting levies as councils ? with a view to boosting annual tax take by 20bn and forestalling future spending cuts.
Councils will be allowed to use part of a £3.8bn integration fund to protect social care against cuts, under a new agreement between the LGA and NHS England.
A new campaign has been launched to ensure more services are kept in public hands, as Buckinghamshire CC creates the largest local government mutual in England.