LGA responds to NAO report on shielding the clinically extremely vulnerable during lockdown

Responding to a National Audit Office report on protecting and shielding the clinically extremely vulnerable during lockdown, Cllr Ian Hudspeth, Chairman of the Local Government Association’s Community Wellbeing Board, said:

“Protecting our most vulnerable people has been councils’ number one priority throughout the pandemic.

“This includes supporting those who are clinically extremely vulnerable to COVID-19 and need to be shielded, as well as people outside this group, to access food, tackle loneliness and meet any social care needs. Councils have also delivered a wide range of support to households who are in, or at risk of, financial hardship and are supporting the vaccine roll out for this and other groups.

“As this report recommends, it is crucial that councils receive regular, secure access to data, so that they can reach out and support the right people at the right time.

“Councils also want to continue working across government to share their experiences and what local people are telling them, to continue to support every vulnerable member of their communities.”