Covid-19: Supporting the vulnerable during lockdown

Public Accounts Committee Closed Inquiry
Opened: 1 Feb 2021 Closed: 28 Jun 2021 Parliament page
Starting from the end of March 2020, the government advised some 2.2 million people who it considered to be “clinically extremely vulnerable” to covid-19 that they should shield at home for 12 weeks, to protect themselves from the virus. For those shielding, the government offered support with food and medicine, … Read more
6 Recommendations
20 Conclusions
1 Report
1 Oral session
2 Letters
1 Event
Activity timeline 5 events
2 Nov
2021
Correspondence
2 Sep
2021
Report published
21 Apr
2021
Report published
16 Mar
2021
Correspondence
22 Feb
2021
Oral evidence
Oral evidence sessions 1 session
22 Feb 2021
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COVID-19: Supporting the vulnerable during lockdown
Ben Llewelyn · MHCLG David Kennedy · Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Dr Jenny Harries OBE · UK Health Security Agency Jeremy Pocklington CB · Ministry of Defence Lee McDonough · Department for Energy Security and Net Zero Mark Reynolds · NHS Digital Sir Chris Wormald · Department of Health and Social Care
Title HC No. Published Items Response
Fifty-Third Report - Covid 19: supporting the vulnerable during … HC 938 21 Apr 2021 26 Responded
Recommendations & Conclusions
5 results
Clear
5 Recommendation Rejected
Fifty-Third Report - Covid 19: sup…
MHCLG and DHSC do not know whether 800,000 clinically extremely vulnerable people slipped through the...
MHCLG and DHSC do not know whether 800,000 clinically extremely vulnerable people slipped through the net and missed out on much needed support. DHSC explains that it took a ‘multi-channel’ approach to engaging with those affected. Through this approach, it … Read more
Government Response
The government rejects the recommendation, stating that all reasonable steps were taken to alert CEV individuals and provide support, with local councils confirming through outcomes data that most needs were met.
HM Treasury
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11 Conclusion Rejected
Fifty-Third Report - Covid 19: sup…
As well as NHS Digital using patient data to add people to the shielding list,...
As well as NHS Digital using patient data to add people to the shielding list, GPs and hospital doctors were asked to review the list and use their clinical judgement to add or remove people. GP and hospital doctors’ additions … Read more
Government Response
The government explicitly disagrees with the conclusion that it took too long to identify CEV people, asserting that it worked as quickly as possible. While generally committed to learning lessons for future data use, it does not address the reported delays in people receiving shielding letters.
HM Treasury
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21 Conclusion Rejected
Fifty-Third Report - Covid 19: sup…
Government used a range of ways to engage with clinically vulnerable people, to advise them...
Government used a range of ways to engage with clinically vulnerable people, to advise them to shield and how to register to access support.51 Government wanted all affected to register whether they needed support or not. NHSE&I and DHSC were … Read more
Government Response
The government explicitly disagrees with the conclusion, stating it has taken all reasonable steps to alert CEV individuals to shielding guidance and support using a multi-channel approach, and defending its existing communication strategy.
HM Treasury
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22 Conclusion Rejected
Fifty-Third Report - Covid 19: sup…
DHSC and MHCLG explained that for the 800,000 vulnerable people that the contact centre could...
DHSC and MHCLG explained that for the 800,000 vulnerable people that the contact centre could not reach, their contact details were passed to local authorities, as it was thought local authorities might be better placed to contact these people and … Read more
Government Response
The government disagrees with the Committee’s conclusion and the associated recommendation, stating that all reasonable steps were taken to alert CEV individuals and intelligence from local councils provided assurance that most were able to remain self-sufficient.
HM Treasury
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25 Conclusion Rejected
Fifty-Third Report - Covid 19: sup…
MHCLG considered that it established a communication strategy that took all reasonable steps to reach...
MHCLG considered that it established a communication strategy that took all reasonable steps to reach people.58 DHSC explained how it used a ‘multi-channel’ approach to communicate with clinically vulnerable people: its preference was to contact people using letters first as … Read more
Government Response
The government explicitly disagrees with the committee's conclusion, asserting that it took all reasonable steps to alert CEV individuals to guidance and support, and that some people chose not to register their needs.
HM Treasury
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Government Response AI assessment · 26 of 6 classified
Accepted 14
Acknowledged 5
Not Addressed 2
Rejected 5
Total 6 recs + 20 conclusions
Correspondence 2 letters
2 Nov 2021 Correspondence from Sir Chris Wormald KCB, Permanent Secretary, Department of Health and Social Care, re 53rd Report session 2019-21 – Covid-19 Supporting the vulnerable, dated 26 October 2021
Parliament page
16 Mar 2021 Correspondence from Sir Chris Wormald, Permanent Secretary, Department of Health and Social Care, re COVID-19: Supporting the vulnerable during lockdown, dated 10 March 2021
Parliament page