New public health system is marred by confusion and lack of accountability, say MPs

The new public health system starting next month in England is flawed in several ways, including confused accountability and questions over who would be in charge during health emergencies, MPs have warned.

Overall, MPs on the parliamentary Communities and Local Government Committee have welcomed the return of responsibility for improving the general health and wellbeing of local people from the NHS to local government, but they say that many issues still have to be resolved.

In its new report the committee said that it had concerns over the complex accountability mechanisms of the new system.1

One example was the lack of clarity over who would be in …