Public services policy

Britain’s public sector is paying the price for the government’s consultancy habit | Rosie Collington and Mariana Mazzucato

The pandemic has shown relying on these private companies to deliver core services simply doesn’t work, say academics Rosie Collington and Mariana Mazzucato

Rosie Collington and Mariana Mazzucato

20, Sep, 2021 @6:00 AM

Health ‘levelling up’ will flop if cuts are not reversed, Javid told

Exclusive: ministers must restore public health funding after decade of cuts, world expert Michael Marmot to say

Andrew Gregory Health editor

19, Sep, 2021 @2:58 PM

Half-term holiday bookings expected to surge after England scraps amber list

Traffic light system replaced, with foreign countries now listed as either ‘red’ or OK for travel

Peter Walker and Ben Quinn

17, Sep, 2021 @5:45 PM

Coronavirus: plans to end free rapid tests in England ‘reckless’

Mayors, teaching unions and health chiefs say decision will speed up spread of virus and deepen health inequalities

Josh Halliday

17, Sep, 2021 @1:39 PM

Which countries are enforcing mandatory Covid jabs – and how?

Joe Biden has introduced a vaccine mandate affecting millions, but some countries have gone further

Peter Beaumont

16, Sep, 2021 @1:07 PM

Covid teams can vaccinate pupils against parents’ wishes, schools told

Guidelines say health staff can decide whether children receive jab without parental consent, as headteachers fear protests

Richard Adams Education editor

15, Sep, 2021 @2:46 PM

Care homes urge easing of rules on overseas workers to tackle staffing crisis

More than 70,000 care workers may have to leave sector in November if they are not fully vaccinated

Robert Booth Social affairs correspondent

13, Sep, 2021 @4:52 PM

BMA to issue damning critique of government over Covid crisis

‘We will not accept return to old pre-pandemic NHS, which was so patently understaffed,’ chair to say

Ian Sample Science editor

12, Sep, 2021 @11:01 PM

Some Tories fear second U-turn over plan for Covid vaccine passports in England

Sajid Javid may be forced to revive unpopular policy in another U-turn if NHS comes under severe pressure in winter

Aubrey Allegretti

12, Sep, 2021 @6:38 PM

Early CT scans deliver huge fall in lung cancer deaths, study shows

Experts say screening smokers and ex-smokers would significantly reduce mortality rate from disease

Denis Campbell

12, Sep, 2021 @9:00 AM

The Observer view on the weaknesses of Boris Johnson’s social care levy | Observer editorial

The PM’s flagship package to fix the care crisis looks like a job half done in leaving it woefully underfunded

Observer editorial

12, Sep, 2021 @5:00 AM

GPs in England ‘finding it increasingly hard to guarantee safe care’

Exclusive: UK’s top family doctor says medic shortage means GPs are unable to cope with demand