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Views of public health leaders in English local authorities - changing perspectives following the transfer of responsibilities from the National Health Service to local government

Peckham, Stephen, Gadsby, Erica, Jenkins, Linda, Coleman, Anna, Bramwell, Donna, Perkins, Neil (2017) Views of public health leaders in English local authorities - changing perspectives following the transfer of responsibilities from the National Health Service to local government. Local Government Studies, 43 (5). pp. 842-863. ISSN 0300-3930. E-ISSN 1743-9388. (doi:10.1080/03003930.2017.1322069) (KAR id:61772)

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Abstract

This paper reports on the findings of a research project that examined the changes to the public health system in England introduced in 2013. Drawing on case study research and two national surveys the findings explore the impact of organisational change on the composition and role of public health teams. Views and experiences were obtained from public health leaders involved in the transfer of staff and functions from the National Health Service in England to local authorities. National surveys at two points in time aimed to compare and contrast views on the evolving changes. The new organisational and managerial arrangements had enabled public health professionals to widen their work and influence, and public health skills and budgets were welcomed by those in local government. Initially, in some areas, directors of public health were less certain of the benefits of the transfer to local government compared to high levels of confidence expressed by elected members, but perspectives changed over time and moved closer together. National headline figures were found to mask high levels of turbulence and churn being experienced by individual authorities identified in the case study research, and the trend of reducing capacity through cuts to staff, budget and services was a cause for serious concern.

Item Type: Article
DOI/Identification number: 10.1080/03003930.2017.1322069
Uncontrolled keywords: Public health, organisational change, local government, health policy
Subjects: H Social Sciences > HM Sociology
Divisions: Divisions > Division for the Study of Law, Society and Social Justice > School of Social Policy, Sociology and Social Research > Centre for Health Services Studies
Depositing User: Stephen Peckham
Date Deposited: 19 May 2017 08:37 UTC
Last Modified: 09 Dec 2022 01:48 UTC
Resource URI: https://kar.kent.ac.uk/id/eprint/61772 (The current URI for this page, for reference purposes)

University of Kent Author Information

Peckham, Stephen.

Creator's ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7002-2614
CReDIT Contributor Roles:

Gadsby, Erica.

Creator's ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4151-5911
CReDIT Contributor Roles:

Jenkins, Linda.

Creator's ORCID:
CReDIT Contributor Roles:
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