Delivering Core NHS and Care Services during the Pandemic and Beyond

Health and Social Care Committee Closed Inquiry
Opened: 22 Apr 2020 Closed: 10 Feb 2021 Parliament page
The Committee held its last oral evidence session in connection with this inquiry on Tuesday 30 June 2020.
15 Recommendations
16 Conclusions
1 Report
4 Oral sessions
16 Letters
4 Events
Activity timeline 22 events
15 Jan
2021
Report published
16 Dec
2020
Correspondence
15 Dec
2020
Correspondence
30 Nov
2020
Correspondence
24 Nov
2020
Correspondence
24 Nov
2020
Correspondence
24 Nov
2020
Correspondence
12 Nov
2020
Correspondence
10 Nov
2020
Correspondence
5 Nov
2020
Correspondence
1 Oct
2020
Report published
8 Sep
2020
Correspondence
Oral evidence sessions 4 sessions
30 Jun 2020
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Amanda Pritchard · NHS England Chris Hopson · NHS England Professor Andrew Goddard · Royal College of Physicians Professor Stephen Powis · NHS England Sir Simon Stevens · NHS England and NHS Improvement
16 Jun 2020
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Delivering core NHS and care services during the pandemic and beyond
Charlotte Augst · National Voices Daloni Carlisle, cancer treatment patient Dr Katherine Henderson · Royal College of Emergency Medicine Dr Layla McCay · NHS Confederation Mick Armstrong · British Dental Association Professor Derek Alderson · Royal College of Surgeons Rob Martinez, joint replacement patient Sir Robert Francis · HealthWatch England
14 May 2020
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Oral evidence
Chris Hopson · NHS England Jennifer Dixon · Health Foundation Nigel Edwards · The Nuffield Trust Richard Murray · The King's Fund
1 May 2020
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Claire Murdoch · NHS England Dame Cally Palmer · NHS England Gill Walton · Royal College of Midwives Professor Martin Marshall · Royal College of General Practitioners
Title HC No. Published Items Response
Second Report - Delivering core NHS and care services during the… HC 320 1 Oct 2020 31 Responded
Recommendations & Conclusions
9 results
Clear
2 Recommendation Accepted
Second Report - Delivering core NH…
Notwithstanding the actions taken to date, we recommend that NHS England & Improvement review, as...
Notwithstanding the actions taken to date, we recommend that NHS England & Improvement review, as a matter of priority, the directions given to NHS Trusts about how to communicate with patients about the progress of their treatment and important medical … Read more
Government Response
The government recognizes the importance of effective communication and dignity, stating that existing NHS Standard Contracts mandate this and NHSE/I will reinforce these requirements. It notes ongoing work with patient groups to develop resources, but does not explicitly commit to the recommended priority review, assessment, or specific update to the committee by October 2020.
Department of Health and Social Care
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3 Conclusion Accepted
Second Report - Delivering core NH…
The pandemic has placed an unprecedented burden on the delivery of core NHS and care...
The pandemic has placed an unprecedented burden on the delivery of core NHS and care services. This has resulted in the delay, suspension or cancellation of services which in turn has inevitably led to a significant increase in waiting times, … Read more
Government Response
The government recognizes the pandemic's burden and the committee's concern, stating that NHSE/I has already launched campaigns to reassure patients that NHS services are safe to access, detailing steps like social distancing and face masks.
Department of Health and Social Care
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5 Conclusion Accepted
Second Report - Delivering core NH…
During our session on 30 June 2020, Sir Simon Stevens told us that he “expects”...
During our session on 30 June 2020, Sir Simon Stevens told us that he “expects” waiting times for and referrals to core health services to “go up quite significantly over the second half of the year.” We also heard from … Read more
Government Response
The government provides details on measures to address the backlog, including increasing elective activity via 'phase 3' guidance and allocating £1bn from the 2021/22 Spending Review to tackle the elective backlog and fund up to one million extra procedures.
Department of Health and Social Care
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6 Recommendation Accepted
Second Report - Delivering core NH…
We recommend that the Department of Health & Social Care and NHSE/I provide an update...
We recommend that the Department of Health & Social Care and NHSE/I provide an update on what steps they have, individually and collectively, taken and are planning to take to quantify and address the overall impact of the pandemic on … Read more
Government Response
The government provides a detailed update on waiting times for elective care and cancer treatments, detailing recovery efforts, and outlines specific steps to manage demand, including a new £150 million fund for GP capacity expansion and adaptations for remote care.
Department of Health and Social Care
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7 Recommendation Accepted
Second Report - Delivering core NH…
We also recommend that NHSE/I provides us with a more broader update on what positive...
We also recommend that NHSE/I provides us with a more broader update on what positive innovations or changes have taken place in the NHS during the pandemic, and how it seeks to ensure all the positive changes that have occurred … Read more
Government Response
The government outlines its "Adopt & Adapt" approach, including hub working models and £1bn funding for elective recovery in 2021/22, to support positive changes and tackle the elective backlog.
Department of Health and Social Care
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10 Conclusion Accepted
Second Report - Delivering core NH…
We recognise the unprecedented scale of the challenge facing the Government and NHSE/I to keep...
We recognise the unprecedented scale of the challenge facing the Government and NHSE/I to keep NHS and care staff safe during the pandemic. As in other countries facing the pandemic there were, however, persistent failures with the procurement and supply … Read more
Government Response
The government expresses confidence in a consistent PPE supply for winter, detailing substantial items on order and a strategic stockpile, and reiterates its commitment to addressing practical difficulties and incorporating user feedback, implying ongoing efforts address the concerns.
Department of Health and Social Care
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18 Conclusion Accepted
Second Report - Delivering core NH…
We are extremely grateful to all NHS and care staff for their hard work and...
We are extremely grateful to all NHS and care staff for their hard work and dedication in trying to meet patient needs in such exceptional circumstances. This includes those who have returned to the NHS (such as clinicians returning from … Read more
Government Response
The government responds by highlighting the NHS People Plan 2020/21, which emphasizes staff wellbeing, mental health, and addressing inequalities, stating that these existing commitments align with the committee's concerns about staff burnout.
Department of Health and Social Care
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26 Conclusion Accepted
Second Report - Delivering core NH…
Historically, accident and emergency departments have been over-stretched, over- burdened and running over capacity.
Historically, accident and emergency departments have been over-stretched, over- burdened and running over capacity. We have heard that the initial decline in patient attendances at A&E departments during the pandemic to some extent “cured” the problem of “corridor care”. However, … Read more
Government Response
The government recognises the importance of managing A&E demand and states that NHSE/I has been working with NHS Trusts on plans including increasing capacity, improving patient flow, and reducing unnecessary admissions.
Department of Health and Social Care
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29 Recommendation Accepted
Second Report - Delivering core NH…
We recommend that NHSE/I and the Department for Health & Social Care set out their...
We recommend that NHSE/I and the Department for Health & Social Care set out their assessment of how effective the use of technology and digital alternatives (“telemedicine”) has been across all health and care services. As part of this assessment, … Read more
Government Response
The government states that NHS England and NHS Improvement are currently undertaking a review to assess the effectiveness of telemedicine and identify risks to patient wellbeing, including how to ensure patients are not digitally excluded.
Department of Health and Social Care
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Government Response AI assessment · 31 of 15 classified
Accepted 9
Accepted in Part 1
Acknowledged 12
Deferred 2
Not Addressed 7
Total 15 recs + 16 conclusions
Correspondence 16 letters
16 Dec 2020 To committee Letter from the NHS Chief Executive on core NHS services during the Covid pandemic
Parliament page
15 Dec 2020 To committee Letter from the NHS Chief People Officer on recommendations in the Delivering core NHS and care services during the pandemic and beyond report
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30 Nov 2020 From committee Letter to the Secretary of State, Chief Executive of NHS England and Improvment and the NHS Chief People Officer on Delivering core NHS and care services during the pandemic and beyond
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24 Nov 2020 To committee Letter from Prerana Issar on staff burnout and resilience
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24 Nov 2020 To committee Response from Prerana Issar to the Committee's Report on Delivering core NHS and care services during the pandemic and beyond
Parliament page
24 Nov 2020 To committee Letter from the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care and the NHS Chief Executive on the Committee's report into Delivering core NHS and care services during the pandemic and beyond
Parliament page
12 Nov 2020 From committee Letter to the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care and the Chief Executive of NHS England and NHS Improvment on the recommendations to the Delivering core NHS and care services during the pandemic and beyound report
Parliament page
10 Nov 2020 To committee Further letter from Prof Stephen Prowis on Covid-19 testing of NHS staff
Parliament page
5 Nov 2020 Correspondence with Prof Chris Whitty and Prof Stephen Prowis on Covid-19 testing of NHS staff
Parliament page
8 Sep 2020 Correspondence with Sir Simon Stevens on NHS third stage response to Covid-19
Parliament page
2 Sep 2020 NHS England and NHS Improvement follow up response to 30 June evidence session
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2 Sep 2020 To committee Letter from the Secretary of State on the Delivering core NHS and care services during the pandemic inquiry
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23 Jul 2020 To committee Letter from Chair to Matt Hancock and Sir Simon Stevens on Delivering core NHS services during the pandemic
Parliament page
3 Jun 2020 From committee Letter to Tim Farron from Dame Cally Palmer on radiotherapy
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5 May 2020 Correspondence with the National Cancer Director on proton beam therapy
Parliament page
5 May 2020 Correspondence with the Chief Dental Officer on guidance for dental practitioners
Parliament page