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“Councils want to play their full part in the future of public health. This pandemic has proven the value of local knowledge and leaders, supported by regional and national coordination. The Government should use this opportunity to strengthen public health and improve integration across health and care, backed up by necessary funding."

Cllr Izzi Seccombe, Chairman of the Local Government Association’s Community Wellbeing Board, responds to a report published today by the Health Foundation, on an increase in emergency hospital admissions.

Cllr Ian Hudspeth, Chairman of the Local Government Association’s Community Wellbeing Board, responds to a joint report by the Health Foundation and The King’s Fund calling for public health funding cuts to be reversed.

“Councils have proved how critical they are in providing services during COVID-19, working closely with schools and other partners to provide support to children and young people, but have had to divert all their early intervention spending into more acute services due to overstretched budgets."

“The social care workforce is under considerable pressure and one of the biggest challenges and priorities for councils is ensuring we have a workforce fit for both the here and now and the future."

Cllr Ian Hudspeth, Chairman of the Local Government Association’s Community Wellbeing Board, responds to a report by the Commons Health and Social Care Committee on legislative proposals for the NHS Long-Term Plan.

“This funding is good news for the sector, but it should be focused on delivering on joint local priorities rather than simply NHS national priorities. “It is essential that councils have a significant input into local decisions on how this funding is used so that data is effectively shared in the interests of people using services and processes are streamlined across health and care systems. “It’s good to see the Secretary of State’s focus on prevention which is the surest way to reduce hospital admissions and reduce pressures on the NHS and adult social care, which needs to be put on an

“A national sexual health strategy is essential to help both providers and commissioners to deliver sexual health services to a high quality and consistent level."

"Integration has the potential to transform services to provide better coordinated care for people who need it - providing it puts people at the heart of decisions which is essential if we are to improve the quality of individuals’ lives."

"A clear timeline is urgently needed from government on when concrete proposals will be brought forward."