MPs launch inquiry into adult social care funding
Councils urged to build community spirit to help reduce health inequalities
Funding boost for councils’ weight management services
Council accused of neglecting man with dementia’s ‘human rights’
Tackling mistrust about vaccines
Dr Justin Varney looks at how Birmingham is working to tackle the ‘layers upon layers of mistrust’ among ethnic minority communities that is ‘now playing out in vaccine hesitancy’.
Six cases of new Brazil COVID variant identified
01/03/2021 Up to six cases of a coronavirus variant first identified in Manaus, Brazil have been detected in the UK, the national health body has confirmed. |
Households of school aged children eligible for rapid COVID tests
01/03/2021 All households of school aged children will get two rapid tests per person, per week, the Department of Health and Social Care has announced. |
London council to investigate possible cancer cluster
25/02/2021 Barking and Dagenham LBC has apologised for failing to investigate a woman’s concerns about a possible cancer cluster in the borough. |
Homeless deaths rose by more than a third in past year, warn campaigners
22/02/2021 The number of homeless people who died last year increased by 37% despite the success of the Everyone In scheme, new research has revealed. |
Think tank calls for collaboration in face of ‘stark’ health inequalities
22/02/2021 A think tank has called on health and care organisations across London to continue working together closely after the pandemic in order to tackle health inequalities across the capital. |
Care home visits to resume in March
22/02/2021 Care home residents in England and Wales will be allowed one regular visitor from 8 March under plans to ease lockdown restrictions. |
Government bans unregulated accommodation for vulnerable children
19/02/2021 Placing vulnerable children under the age of 16 in unregulated accommodation will be made illegal from September, the Government has announced. |
Multi-million pound funding to tackle Long COVID
18/02/2021 Four research studies have been awarded £18.5m to explore the causes and effective treatment of Long COVID. |
Councils call for extra cash for expanded shielding list
17/02/2021 Councils have called for more access to data and extra cash to deal with sharp spike in the number of people shielding from coronavirus. |
Launch of COVID-19 vaccine uptake plan
15/02/2021 The Government has highlighted how vaccination buses and short films aimed at people with a learning disability are helping to boost vaccine uptake at a local level. |
Disabled people accounted for six in 10 deaths from COVID-19 last year
12/02/2021 Figures have shown that six out of 10 people who died from COVID-19 last year were disabled. |
Extended funding for projects for children with SEND
12/02/2021 The Government has extended funding for projects to support children with special educational needs and disabilities. |
LGA responds to white paper plans to radically reform the NHS
11/02/2021 Council leaders have warned that local government needs to be an equal partner in the design of any national oversight of social care as the Government sets out its white paper plans to overhaul the NHS. |
Social care should remain delivered by councils, says new report
10/02/2021 Tens of thousands of people could live more independent lives if councils keep hold of social care under government plans to overhaul health services, a new report has insisted. |
Seven in ten local authorities offering rapid testing
10/02/2021 Rapid testing is now being offered by more than 70% of local authorities in England for people unable to work from home, latest figures show. |
Fossil fuel air pollution causes one in five deaths every year, research shows
09/02/2021 Fossil fuel pollution is responsible for one in five deaths worldwide - much higher than previously thought - according to new research. |
Report calls for a joined up public health approach to gangs
08/02/2021 Local authorities are failing to tackle the key drivers for youth violence in their areas, the Children's Commissioner has warned in a new report. |
Surge testing expanded to other areas
08/02/2021 More local authorities will be deploying surge testing in a bid to stop the spread of the new COVID-19 variants. |
Councils warn of 'harrowing' rise in serious child harm cases during pandemic
05/02/2021 The number of serious child-related incidents reported by councils has risen by more than a quarter during the pandemic, new figures show. |
Councillors urged to become 'cancer champions'
04/02/2021 A network of Councillor Cancer Champions teams have been launched to help local communities stay healthy. |
Over 10 million people receive first dose of COVID-19 vaccine in UK
04/02/2021 The Government has reported that almost one in five adults in the UK have had the COVID-19 vaccine, a significant milestone for the largest vaccination programme in British history. |
Alcohol-related deaths hit record high during pandemic
03/02/2021 Alcohol-related deaths in England and Wales rose to record highs during the first nine months of 2020, official figures have revealed. |
Local authorities to roll-out surge testing for South African COVID variant
02/02/2021 Up to 350,000 people will be tested for the South African COVID variant, after cases were discovered that could not be traced back to international travel. |
Pandemic has exposed how 'fragile' social care system is, report warns
29/01/2021 The Government must urgently deliver on its pledge to fix social care, a coalition of 15 national health organisations has warned today. |
Report finds strong gender divide in mental health of young people
28/01/2021 Local authority leaders have emphasised the importance of early intervention and prevention services when it comes to tackling mental health issues affecting young people, particularly during the pandemic. |
Pandemic could impact children's mental health for years, report warns
28/01/2021 Damage to children's mental health caused by lockdown and school closures could last for years, the Children’s Commissioner has warned today. |
Council leaders react to 'heartbreaking' 100,000 coronavirus deaths
27/01/2021 The Prime Minister has offered his ‘deepest condolences’ after figures revealed that more than 100,000 have now lost their lives due to COVID-19. |
Councils secure funding to help boost take up of COVID-19 vaccine
25/01/2021 Over £23m has been allocated to 60 councils to encourage high-risk groups to have the COVID-19 vaccination. |
New funding to improve life of mothers and babies
22/01/2021 The 19 projects chosen to share a £7.6m fund to reduce health inequalities among new mothers and babies have been announced by the Government. |
Councils welcome £148m funding boost to cut misuse of drugs
20/01/2021 Five areas across England will pilot a new approach to tackling drug misuse under plans announced today by the Government. |
Council pays mother £8,000 after failing to protect her from violent son
19/01/2021 Three young children were left without any protection from their violent older brother after Somerset County Council failed to help their family, Ombudsman finds. |
Babies’ needs overlooked in COVID response
19/01/2021 A generation of babies risks being damaged by the fall-out from the pandemic without a concerted effort from local support systems to improve outcomes, says a new report. |
Ten new COVID-19 mass vaccination centres opened
18/01/2021 Ten new mass vaccination centres are due to open in England this week with a million over-80s invited to receive the vaccine. |
Council chiefs welcome £120m boost to social care workforce
18/01/2021 Local authority leaders have welcomed a multi-million-pound funding boost from the Government which is aimed at supporting the social care workforce. |
Lords call for urgent action to improve health in old age
15/01/2021 The Government will miss its pledge of delivering five extra years of healthy living by 2035 without urgent action, Lords Committee has argued today. |
Councils voice concerns over drop in number of children being active
15/01/2021 Less than half of children and young people are physically active for the recommended hour or more a day, a new survey has revealed. |
Six areas secure funding to develop local health partnerships
14/01/2021 Six areas in England have been chosen to take part in a programme aimed at tackling health inequalities and improving the wellbeing of local communities. |
Council chiefs call for mental health services funding
13/01/2021 Local authority leaders have urged the Government to ensure that councils’ mental health services receive the funding they require to meet ‘unmet demand’ in response to a landmark reform of mental health laws. |
Council chiefs welcome ‘largest vaccination programme in British history’
12/01/2021 Local authority leaders have welcomed the Government’s announcement of the COVID-19 vaccination plan, but argue councils need more information to ensure everyone receives their jab promptly. |
Commission proposes third option on integrated care
11/01/2021 The Health Devolution Commission (HDC) has called for a third 'health and prosperity' model of Integrated Care Systems. |
Mass testing for asymptomatic COVID-19 rolled out to all local authorities
11/01/2021 All local authorities will be able to offer asymptomatic community testing to critical workers from this week. |
Closure of leisure centres to cost £7.25m in missed health savings
08/01/2021 The continued closure of sport and leisure facilities during the latest lockdown will cost £7.25m in missed health savings, new analysis has revealed. |
Welsh council takes over care home amid COVID-19 outbreak
06/01/2021 A county council in Wales has taken over the management of a private care home that has been severely affected by COVID-19. |
Council ensures homeless people are offered COVID-19 vaccine
06/01/2021 Homeless people in Oldham are being given priority for COVID-19 vaccinations in a bid to stem the spread of the disease. |
Majority of adults determined to lead healthier lifestyles in the face of COVID-19
05/01/2021 Seven in 10 adults say that the threat of the coronavirus has motivated them to lead healthier lives this year, a public health survey has revealed. |
Major incidents over COVID declared
04/01/2021 Essex, Oxfordshire and Berkshire have declared major incidents amid fears the rapid rise in COVID-19 cases could overwhelm health services. |
New COVID-19 vaccine rolled out
04/01/2021 The first people in the world are set to receive the Oxford University/AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine today as the NHS expands COVID-19 vaccination programmes across the UK. |
Hancock announces £149m grant to fund COVID-19 testing in care homes
24/12/2020 Care homes across the country are to be given access to a £149m grant to support the roll out of rapid coronavirus testing. |
Government launches £7.5m loneliness package
23/12/2020 The Government has announced a £7.5m funding package to help tackle loneliness during the winter period. |
York council issues warning after police hand out ‘shocking’ number of COVID fines
23/12/2020 City of York police have issued what they describe as a ‘shocking’ number of fines to tier 3 residents who visited the city last weekend. |
This issue of Public Property examines how how flexible workspaces can lead the way in regeneration for local authorities, Why local authority intervention is key to successful urban regeneration schemes and if the Government’s challenge of embracing beauty is an opportunity for communities.
The March issue also takes a closer look at Blackburn with Darwen Council's first digital health hub to help people gain control over health and care services.
