Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 23
23
Local authorities and public health experts play a vital role in protecting the health of...
Conclusion
Local authorities and public health experts play a vital role in protecting the health of the population. Our previous report on test, track and trace, concluded that many important stakeholders had at times felt ignored by NHST&T. We found that a range of stakeholders had queried why local authorities and NHS primary care bodies were not more directly involved with testing and tracing activities at NHST&T’s outset given their existing networks, experience and expertise. We recommended that NHST&T review how it engaged with, and draws expertise from, the wider public health and other sectors, including local government.52 We challenged the UKHSA and the Department about how they will ensure UKHSA makes the best use of local expertise. The Department acknowledged the importance of getting this balance right, and told us it was trying to identify what was best delivered nationally to a common set of national standards and securing economies of scale, and which parts should best be delivered locally making use of local knowledge and expertise. It explained that, for example, laboratory capacity and data tracking systems such as barcodes might best be organised nationally, whereas setting up testing centres might best be done locally, drawing on local expertise about how to reach vulnerable communities.53
Government Response
Not Addressed
HM Government
Not Addressed
6.1 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Target implementation date: Spring 2022 6.2 The UKHSA wrote to the Committee on 16 December 2021 setting out how it continues to work with local government, NHS, the devolved administrations, and other partners and stakeholders and how they are helping to design its future operating model. As set out in that letter, ways of working during the transition to the establishment of the UKHSA have remained in line with pre-existing arrangements to ensure continuity of approach in managing the response to COVID-19 pandemic. 6.3 The Contain Outbreak Management Fund (COMF) is the primary source of funding to support local authorities’ public health response to COVID-19 which has distributed £2.1 billion to local authorities in England since June 2020. 6.4 The UKHSA continues to engage directly with local authority chief executives, directors of public health, professional bodies and associated local partners. Once the funding from the Spending Review 2021 has been agreed, the UKHSA will build and strengthen these effective partnerships to create a future operating model that facilitates the co-design of policies and responses on health security.