Lib Dems join health organisations in warning about PHE shake-up

Over 70 health organisations and alliances send a joint statement to the Prime Minister Boris Johnson, Health Sec Matt Hancock and the interim leadership of Public Health England (PHE), raising serious concerns about the reorganisation of public health now underway. This follows recent announcements that PHE will cease to exist by April next year and be replaced by the National Institute of Health Protection. The statement is endorsed by organisations including the Association of Directors of Public Health, the Royal Society for Public Health, the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges, the BMA, the Smokefree Action Coalition, and the Richmond Group of health and care charities. It warns: 'Organisational change is difficult and can be damaging at the best of times and these are not the best of times. A seamless transition from the current to the new system is essential.'

Responding to a joint statement by 70 health organisations and alliances expressing concerns about the reorganisation of public health now underway, Liberal Democrat Health Spokesperson Munira Wilson said:

"By scrapping the body at the core of our public health response to this global pandemic shows the Government has simply got its priorities all wrong.

"There are no two ways about it, Ministers are attempting to deflect responsibility from their own mistakes with a top-down reorganisation.

"Now is not the time to rearrange the deckchairs. Now is the time to listen to the experts who rightly fear the damage caused by these nonsensical plans.

"The Prime Minister should instead prepare for a second wave by delivering the comprehensive strategy to test, trace and isolate every case so we can keep people safe and prevent new surges."