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David Buck: We need policies on public health at the centre of government

The King's Fund's senior fellow in public health and health inequalities on the move from the NHS into the town hall Do you believe that local authorities are well prepared to take on the burden of responsibility for local government? Local authorities vary in their preparedness for April 2013. But there is no doubt that as a whole they are enthusiastic about meeting the challenges ahead, and are keen to lead on health improvement for the people who live and work in their areas. It is viewed less as a burden, more as a recognition of the important role that they play in promoting health...

Published Tue, Sep 09 2012 3:59 AM by Healthcare Network | guardian.co.uk

Filed under: health, Public Health, Guardian Professional, Policy, Local government, Local government network, Organisational development, Interviews, Service delivery

Redesigning public services: happier customers cost us less

The public sector needs to take a leaf out of the design industry's book and understand how users experience services Last month I upgraded my satellite TV subscription to be ready for hours of HD London 2012 sporting action. I signed into my account over the internet, hit a couple of buttons and was done by the time my two-year-old daughter woke up from a nap. Later this week I intend to book a holiday, pay a few bills and do the food shopping, all via the internet, and I expect the experiences to be equally hassle free. What's remarkable is that these different experiences are so similar...

Published Tue, Jul 07 2012 3:29 AM by Healthcare Network | guardian.co.uk

Filed under: Healthcare Network, Guardian Professional, Blogposts, finance, Public services policy, Local government, Local government network, Practice, Organisational development, Local government network blog, Housing network, Service delivery

Public health: bridging the cultural faultlines

Planning has disengaged with public health, but evidence points to a link between fast food shops and local obesity With public health moving back into the remit of local government next year, there is a huge opportunity to move towards a more "holistic" understanding of health – yet in many health circles, the term holistic is still seen as a mumbo jumbo, catch-all term. For councils, the word means that health is not just about providing a stop-smoking service; its about parks and green spaces, schools and youth centres, exercise and local food outlets. In short, it covers everything...

Published Wed, May 05 2012 4:00 AM by Healthcare Network | guardian.co.uk

Filed under: health, Public Health, Health Policy, Healthcare Network, Guardian Professional, Blogposts, Policy, Society, Local government, Local government network, Commissioning, Organisational development, Local government network blog, Planning policy, Planning

District councils and the battle for control of public health

There are limits to representation – not everyone with a local stake can sit on health and wellbeing boards We are entering a new era. The return of public health to local authorities along with the creation of health and wellbeing boards (HWBs) is a seismic shift and a significant opportunity. There are challenges too and leading the public health agenda will present a unique set of difficulties for two-tier authorities. A failure to recognise this, and specifically the vital role of district councils in improving wellbeing, has potential to undermine the agenda. The perception of county councils...

Published Thu, Apr 04 2012 4:00 AM by Healthcare Network | guardian.co.uk

Filed under: health, Public Health, Healthcare Network, Guardian Professional, Comment, Policy, finance, Public services policy, Society, NHS, Local government, Local government network, Organisational development, Local government network blog

Public health, leadership and power

Could the politics of the town hall drive health commissioners away from local government? Despite all the worries about privatisation of the NHS it's unlikely that, when passed, the new health and social care act will be tested in that area. There is another corner of our healthcare landscape where the full force of the act is likely to be felt first, and where the first cracks in the NHS reforms may well appear – public health. By this time next year, councils will have taken over (or taken back) the responsibility for anything that affects the health of the local population. This can only...

Published Wed, Mar 03 2012 5:38 AM by Healthcare Network | guardian.co.uk

Filed under: Public Health, Healthcare Network, Guardian Professional, Blogposts, Policy, Local government network, Commissioning, Organisational development, Local government network blog, democracy

Are councils ready and prepared to take on the burden of public health?

Councils are enthusiastic about the job of managing the nation's public health, but fears of the issue being cast overboard persist Councils' enthusiasm for the job of managing the nation's public health, which returns to the remit of local government from April next year, is unquestionable. Almost 95% of top tier authorities have already volunteered to set up shadow health and wellbeing boards, while three in four councils are jointly appointing directors of public health. More than half are also pressing on with local HealthWatch pilots . Local authorities have recognised the need...

Published Thu, Oct 10 2011 5:52 AM by Healthcare Network | guardian.co.uk

Filed under: England, Healthcare Network, Guardian Professional, Blogposts, Comment, Strategy, Social care, Policy, Local government network, Practice, Organisational development, Workforce development, Local government network blog

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