Call for single government body to tackle social isolation

The Government is being urged to appoint one department to battle loneliness and social isolation.

The Loneliness Taskforce, established by the charity Alone, along with Dr Keith Swanick, is to report on isolation next month.

It wants to increase awareness about the issue and to produce a set of recommendations for government, state agencies, and policymakers. The task force has received 300 submissions from members of the public, as well as from organisations.