‘Short-sighted’ decision on public health funding
Councils’ public health funding grant will be maintained but not increased in 2021 – a decision labelled “extremely short-sighted” by the LGA in its response to last month’s Spending Review.
public health
Mental wellbeing ‘crucial’ to recovery planning
People’s mental wellbeing will play a crucial role in every aspect of recovery planning, the LGA has said in a new joint report with the Centre for Mental Health.
More localisation of Test and Trace
The NHS Test and Trace system in England will cut 6,000 staff by the end of August, with the remaining contact tracers working alongside councils’ public health teams to reach more infected people and their contacts in communities, the Government has announced.
New health protection organisation launched
Public Health England (PHE) is being replaced by a new body, the National Institute for Health Protection, which will be focused on preparing for external threats such as pandemics.
PPE supply warning amid second wave concerns
Urgent clarity over the governance and distribution of vital personal protective equipment (PPE) is needed in the event of a second wave of coronavirus, MPs have found.
Rebuilding mentally healthier communities
Mental ill health costs thousands of lives and more than £105 billion every year – an average of £700 million per upper-tier council area in England alone.
Pandemic highlights health inequalities
Black people are nearly twice as likely to die from COVID-19 than white people, according to figures from the Office for National Statistics.
Frontline worker tests
All essential workers in England – and members of their household – will now be eligible for coronavirus tests, it was announced as first was going to press.
Latest ONS statistics
Around one in six coronavirus-related deaths occurred outside hospitals – including in care homes – according to the latest Office for National Statistics figures.
£1.6bn care boost to free hospital beds
Patients who no longer need urgent hospital treatment will be helped to return home, making at least 30,000 beds available during the coronavirus outbreak, after councils received £1.6 billion in extra funding.