Committees

Nurses' leader and Greater Manchester CEO give evidence on lessons from COVID-19

15 June 2020

Britain's nursing union leader and the Greater Manchester Combined Authority chief executive are among the experts giving evidence to the House of Lords Public Services Committee as members continue an inquiry into lessons from the coronavirus epidemic.

Background

Members will explore with witnesses how well central and local government coordinated public services during lockdown, and whether the experience of coronavirus requires a new approach to the wellbeing, retention and recruitment of public service workers.

The committee, set up to examine the transformation of public services to ensure that they are fit for the 21st century, is looking into what the COVID-19 experience can tell us about the future role, priorities and shape of public services.

Witnesses

Wednesday 17 June, virtual meeting

At 3.00pm

  • Councillor David Williams, Chair of County Council Network and Leader of Hertfordshire County Council
  • Eamonn Boylan, Chief Executive, Greater Manchester Combined Authority
  • Dr Jeanelle de Gruchy, President of the Association of Directors of Public Health and Director of Population Health for Tameside and Glossop Strategic Commission

At 3.55pm

  • Professor Dame Donna Kinnair, Chief Executive and General Secretary, Royal College of Nursing
  • Mary Robertson, Public Services Lead, Trades Union Congress
  • James Zuccollo, Director for School Workforce, Education Policy Institute

Possible questions

  • What failures has the outbreak exposed in central and local government cooperation on public service delivery?
  • Have we seen innovative new approaches to local and national cooperation during lockdown?
  • Did funding issues limit the ability of local services to respond to the crisis?
  • What lessons on the role of the voluntary sector should local government take from the crisis?
  • What challenges have public services faced in recruiting and retaining employees since the outbreak began?
  • Have you learnt any lessons from the coronavirus crisis for improving the wellbeing of public service employees?

Further information

Image: PA