Planning ahead for better health and care.
As first was going to press in late January, a raft of covid-related restrictions had been, or were being, lifted in response to the Omicron wave passing its peak in England.
The Government has ended its ‘work from home’ recommendation, face coverings are no longer required by law in any setting (including schools), and you don’t need to have a covid passport (mandatory certification) to go to nightclubs and mass events – although venues can still use them on a voluntary basis.
People must continue to self-isolate if they are infected, but this is now for just five days, subject to two negative test results. Public health guidance also remains in place, suggesting individuals should continue to wear a face covering in crowded and enclosed spaces.
The transition from Plan B is down to the effectiveness of booster jabs, compliance with measures, and the fact that scientists believe the Omicron wave has peaked nationally.
Vaccinations remain a priority and our best defence against coronavirus. Councils have worked hard to support the vaccination and booster programme, and I know you will continue to encourage all residents to get jabbed.
As we look to the months beyond the immediate Omicron wave, we need to look ahead to how we support the nation to live with COVID-19.
The LGA is pushing for local government to be engaged in the early planning stages for key areas, including future boosters, service recovery, winter pressures, and supporting communities to build back from the longer-term impact of the pandemic.
Meanwhile, the focus is narrowing on how best to tackle the NHS backlog caused by the pandemic, as well as the long-term problems in health and social care.
The LGA is clear that the best way of tackling the backlog is to invest in prevention and early intervention. That means investing in local community care, mental health services and support for social care.
“Without financial certainty vital frontline services are at risk”
We have had constructive conversations with the Government about plans for even better health and care integration, during which we made the case for investment in our outstanding social care workforce and the wide-ranging role local government plays in people’s health and wellbeing.
It is not just the NHS and social care services facing challenges. Public health services are also at risk amid funding uncertainty and Omicron pressures.
Without financial certainty, drug and alcohol treatment, tackling obesity, and health visiting are among the vital frontline services at risk of being cut back or closing altogether.
This is why we have been calling on the Government to urgently publish the public health grant funding allocations, which councils will receive from April.
Meanwhile, the LGA has been running a series of webinars on how COVID-19 has exacerbated health inequalities, and as part of this work, we have uploaded new case studies to our Health Inequalities Hub showing how councils are supporting their residents (see www.local.gov.uk/health-inequalities-hub).
Our next webinar, on 15 February, will focus on how the pandemic has impacted people’s mental health – visit our events page to find out more and book a place, and view our feature on children’s mental health.
I hope that, as restrictions lift, you and your teams remain safe. As ever, do let us know if there is anything further that we can do to support your council, by contacting your LGA principal adviser.