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.
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.
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
The government has been urged to undertake a review of its controversial NHS reforms in 2015 to ensure that local commissioners are having the intended impact on integrating health and social care in England.