Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 25
25
From 1 October, NHST&T will become part of the newly created UKHSA.
Conclusion
From 1 October, NHST&T will become part of the newly created UKHSA. We asked witnesses how they were involving local authorities and other stakeholders in designing the model for this new organisation.59 The Department acknowledged that it had not always got the balance between local and national delivery right. It committed to co- creating the model for the new organisation with local authorities. The Chief Executive of the UKHSA acknowledged that the way it worked with local authorities, the NHS and other stakeholders will be critical and that it had sessions organised to work through this.60 58 Qq 143–144 59 Qq 91–96 60 Qq 151, 160 20 Test and Trace update
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.