Healthcare Management Magazine | Local Government

Latest local government

Ofsted overhauls children's services inspections

By William Eichler 24 March 2026

Ofsted has announced changes to how it inspects local authority children's services, with updates to its ILACS framework taking effect from April 2026.

LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Palliative care reforms must address children's end of life services, MPs say

By Lee Peart 24 March 2026

Children’s end of life services must be addressed in coming palliative care reforms, according to the Health Committee.

COMMUNITY

Children stuck in hospital as lack of community care sparks 'hidden crisis'

By William Eichler 23 March 2026

Children are spending thousands of unnecessary days in hospital due to gaps in community and social care, the Children’s Commissioner for England has warned.

LOCAL GOVERNMENT

ICB savings risk shifting care costs to councils, think-tank warns

By Lee Peart 19 March 2026

An ICB’s £277m savings programme for 2025/26 risks shifting care costs to local councils and residents, the Nuffield Trust has warned.

SOCIAL CARE

Visiting rights in hospitals and care homes to be strengthened

By Lee Peart 19 March 2026

Visiting rights in hospitals, care homes and hospices are to be strengthened under Government legislation.

LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Government sets out 'zero tolerance' approach to SEND failings

By Lee Peart 16 March 2026

A letter setting out the Government’s ‘zero tolerance’ approach to SEND failings has been sent by education secretary Bridget Phillipson to local authorities and ICBs.

SOCIAL CARE

Casey urged to consider potential of LATCos for social care

By Paul Marinko 11 March 2026

Baroness Louise Casey has been urged to look at local authority trading companies (LATCo) providing an ‘antidote’ to billions of pounds being drained from social care.

SOCIAL CARE

Welsh councils urge funding boost to ease social care pressures

By Lee Peart 09 March 2026

Welsh councils have called for additional funding for social care to help break what they describe as a cycle of ‘managing crisis’ across frontline services.

PUBLIC HEALTH

Embedding a research culture within healthcare organisations: Why and how?

09 March 2026

Many senior NHS leaders may fear that research activity will detract from the main business of improving health. However, writes Professor Lisa McNally, director of public health for Worcestershire...

SEND