Health professionals and the Local Government Association have released a joint statement, which sets out recommendations.
Representatives from the RCM have signed the statement, which calls for the return of key areas of health to local government by April 2013.
The joint statement identifies areas that ‘need further consideration’ in order for the reform of public health to be a success.
These includes measures to ensure Public Health England does not become the 'cuckoo in the nest' as an unaccountable body that drains resources from the local public health system.
It also demands that the government goes into discussions with leading health organisation before pressing ahead with Public Health England.
Dr Frank Atherton, president of the Association of Directors of Public Health, said: ‘England needs a unified system for public health delivery but the government’s current proposals run the risk of fragmenting public health capacity and accountability across too many organisations.
‘We will continue to work with colleagues across public health, local government and the NHS to ensure an integrated system for the delivery of public health outcomes.’
Other recommendations include giving councils the flexibility to organise their public health arrangements and funding not being based on historic pattern of expenditure by primary care trusts.
Councillor David Rogers, chairman of the Local Government Association's GP and Public Health Stakeholder Group, said:
‘Local authorities are best placed to understand the challenges of key areas of public health, which has been the core business of local government since its foundation.
‘As providers of services such as housing, transport and leisure, councils are well placed to address the wider determinants of health.
‘But the health reforms also present challenges,’ he continued.
‘There's a lack of clarity as the Health and Social Care Bill proceeds through parliament, so there's a sense that people know big changes are coming but do not yet know all the details.
‘With so many “unknowns” and important parts of the jigsaw missing it is difficult for councils to take decisive action and forge ahead with local plans.’
The joint statement is outlined in a letter to David Behan, the Department for Health's director general for social care.
It was sent from the
Local Government Association on behalf of a national group including representatives of the
RCM,
BMA,
Faculty of Public Health, Association of Directors of Public Health and
NHS Confederation.
