What we say about… Devolution

The English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill aims to strengthen the role of Strategic Authorities (SA) in reducing health inequalities and improving health. It is expected that this duty be considered across all the SAs areas of competence.

Devolution comes at the same time as the abolition of NHS England and the Government’s 10 Year Health Plan which also aim to improve the nation’s health and reduce health inequalities. These initiatives all come with a clear commitment to working in partnership with businesses, employers, investors, mayors, SA, and local authorities (LA) to ‘create a healthier country together’.

While devolution offers a significant opportunity to bring about positive change, it is important to recognise that it also poses significant risks which could compromise the Government’s ambition. These risks must be mitigated by thorough consultation and engagement with the existing public health system.

Read our recommendations, which include calling on the Government to:

• Fully recognise the statutory role of Directors of Public Health (DsPH) in providing strategic leadership to improve and protect health and wellbeing across the local health, care, and civic systems, in new devolved structures.
• Base devolution on the principle of subsidiarity – transferring power to and embedding community engagement and empowerment at the lowest possible level or where decisions have the most impact.
• Make improvements in population health and reduction of health inequalities a core test of all decisions, including devolution.