With councils gearing up to take on responsibility for public health, the issue is provoking much debate. A recent article on the local government network discussing the changes certainly prompted some strong reactions.
While there is undoubtedly support within councils for taking responsibility for public health – almost 95% of top tier authorities have already volunteered to set up shadow health and wellbeing boards – concerns remain over how prepared they are to do the job.
On Twitter, @sueappleby told us: “I have experienced both NHS and Local Gov and agree that there is much to be done before councils are ready.”
The changes, set out in the health and social care bill and in the report Healthy Lives, Health People, include the appointment of directors of public health and the formation of health and wellbeing boards, supported by the new quango Public Health England. Budgets will be ringfenced, although it is thought that councils will be free to pool their funding for joint initiatives.
In our recent poll, more than 90% of you told us that you don’t think local government is ready to take responsibility for the nation’s public health. Questions remain over how well budgets will be protected, who will sit on wellbeing boards and how powers will be transferred to local government. So is your council ready?
Join our expert panel from 12pm on Wednesday or post your thoughts and questions in the comment thread now. Don’t forget to join the live discussion on Twitter too: @GdnLocalGov
