The role of local authorities in health issues : eighth report of session 2012-13, Vol. 1: Report, together with formal minutes, oral and written evidence

From 1 April 2013 local government will have a responsibility to improve the health and wellbeing of local people.

Councils are well placed to make the most of a move away from a medical model of health, based on clinical treatment, to a social model, based on health promotion, protection and disease prevention.

Central to the new system will be Health and Wellbeing Boards, whose members include councillors, GPs, directors of local services and community groups.

They will need to focus on health promotion among all age groups.

With few powers and no budget to commission services themselves, they will have to display leadership, build relationships and use their influence locally to turn their health and wellbeing strategies into reality.

Health and Wellbeing Boards will be part of a complex new structure, and it is still unclear who will be in charge locally in the event of a health emergency.

New arrangements for screening and immunisation services lack a local dimension. These services, along with public health services for children up to five years old and childhood immunisation services, could be devolved to public health staff within local government under Directors of Public Health.

The Committee points to weaknesses in the grant formula and the Health Premium and calls on the Government to provide local authorities with community budgets to direct resources at people and places, rather than organisations.

The Government also needs to address concerns about local authority and NHS access to each other's data.