Public Health England

[Alex50]

anyone else think it’s worrying the government are replacing PHE

www.google.com/amp/s/www.bbc.co.uk/news/amp/health-53799854

Horrifying but not surprising

It seems to be just a side line on the news as well as if the government don’t want it mentioned to much. Does anyone know who will be replacing them?

www.google.com/amp/s/amp.theguardian.com/society/2020/aug/17/dido-harding-to-run-agency-to-replace-public-health-england

Total nightmare.

Isnt it peculiar that this decision was made just as the schools are going back.

Apparently Dido Harding is going to run the new one. It’s going to be a disaster.

Why is it worrying/horrifying? It's a government agency and they're just replacing it with another government agency arent they? Or am I missing something?

I'm not trying to be sarcastic/facetious I genuinely dont know what the issue is.

PHE are going to be the scapegoats - very convenient and very predictable. Another NHS reorganisation yay just what we need 🙄

There’s a thread about it here with some useful background
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/3998583-Dido-Harding-should-she-be-given-greater-responsibilities

My understanding is that they are combining test and trace with PHE. In itself I'm not sure it's a terrible idea but I am a bit concerned that Dido Harding has been put in charge, her track record isn't hugely reassuring!

yes they are 'just replacing it during a PANDEMIC.

And putting an incompetent person in charge.

Otherwise sure, its fine and dandy

Why is it worrying/horrifying? It's a government agency and they're just replacing it with another government agency arent they? Or am I missing something?

PHE got an absolutely glowing report in 2017

Why change a successful organisation right in the middle of a pandemic?

It stinks

Replacing an agency with an agency won’t solve the structural problems that Langsley created. PH responsibilities are all over the place within health and social care.

Culturally PHE does have issues. A combination of overthinking to the point of paralysis and lack of operational capabilities and responsibility. For example refusing to share information with other agencies but having an expectation that the other agencies will act on that lack of information.

@chickenyhead

www.google.com/amp/s/amp.theguardian.com/society/2020/aug/17/dido-harding-to-run-agency-to-replace-public-health-england

Total nightmare.

Isnt it peculiar that this decision was made just as the schools are going back.

Yes of course. Hadn’t thought about the timing with schools going back.

Whether or not it's the right thing to do I can't bring myself to be horrified at PHE being replaced. Among other things, considering the way they were recording Covid deaths something had to be done.

PHE seemed at best able to monitor gastroenteritis outbreaks in schools and that's about it. They were clearly out of their depth and ill equipped to deal with a pandemic. Why on earth did they need to be told not to record deaths as Covid months after a positive test?!

Baroness Harding did what they should've done from the start and got a massive testing system in place using every available lab.

It was without doubt time for dusty old PHE to go, it is of course a shame time wise but as this situation will be with us for the foreseeable the new organisation will hopefully it will be far better and more organised for any future pandemics.

@ASchuylerSister

Apparently Dido Harding is going to run the new one. It’s going to be a disaster.

It’s outrageous that Harding is being put in charge of anything. She has an appalling record everywhere she’s been.

'She has an appalling record everywhere she’s been.'

Does she? It does seem an odd choice then I agree. Where has she been?

They should put Chris Whitty in charge of everything in my opinion, isn't he brilliant.

Re inventing the wheel can be useful

Not sure the middle of a pandemic is the best timing!

However they want to reinvent it to match what RKI do which is brilliant.

Is that likely to happen with Dido in charge - probably not!

Would it perhaps have worked better with someone on charge? Yes!

I'd have had people like Chris Whitty and Prof Van Tam at the top of people to ask.

She hasn't done a great job of running test and trace and the app. She wasn't good at Talk Talk either. She got the job because she's a Tory peer, chummy with Hancock and married to a Tory MP. Said MP is a member of the 1828 group, who funnily enough have called for PHE to be scrapped for ages. the 1828 also want the NHS to be replaced by a private insurance system.

It's scapegoating. They'll just keep everything running exactly the same just with a new name, while the govt looks like it's held someone accountable for Covid failings by 'scrapping' PHE.