Select Committee · Health and Social Care Committee

Clearing the backlog caused by the pandemic

Status: Closed Opened: 20 Jul 2021 Closed: 25 May 2022 24 recommendations 10 conclusions 1 report

The Committee has launched a new inquiry to quantify the level of pent-up demand for key healthcare services; and to consider whether fundamental changes to the organisation and delivery of NHS services will be required to manage the backlog of cases caused by the pandemic. MPs will examine levels of funding, capacity, organisation and leadership … Show more

Clear

Reports

1 report
Title HC No. Published Items Response
Ninth report - Clearing the backlog caused by the pandemic HC 599 6 Jan 2022 34 Responded

Recommendations & Conclusions

5 items
4 Recommendation Ninth report - Clearing the backlog cau… Accepted in Part

We further recommend that NHS England looks beyond primary care in its assessment of the...

We further recommend that NHS England looks beyond primary care in its assessment of the use of digital tools and considers the impact of an increased usage of such tools not only on patients, but also on other parts of the health and care system, especially at the primary care … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government states NHS England has concluded an evaluation of digital tools in primary care and will publish guidance on best practice, including reducing bureaucracy at the primary/secondary care interface and the use of remote consultations, partially addressing the recommendation to look beyond primary care.
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Department of Health and Social Care
14 Recommendation Ninth report - Clearing the backlog cau… Accepted in Part

As part of its national health and care recovery plan, we recommend that the Government...

As part of its national health and care recovery plan, we recommend that the Government sets out the contribution that public health services will make, and ensures that this contribution is backed with a level of funding that acknowledges their crucial role. Read more

Government response AI summary
The government acknowledges the vital role of public health services and states that funding levels have been increased by £340 million in 2022/23 to £3.47 billion, but does not explicitly commit to setting out their contribution within a national recovery plan.
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Department of Health and Social Care
16 Recommendation Ninth report - Clearing the backlog cau… Accepted in Part

We repeat our recommendation that HEE must be required (whether in its own right or...

We repeat our recommendation that HEE must be required (whether in its own right or as part of NHS England) to publish objective, transparent and independently-audited annual reports on workforce projections that cover the next five, ten and twenty years, including an assessment of whether sufficient numbers of staff are … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government accepted in principle, stating it already publishes independently verified workforce assessments at least every two years (not annually as recommended), covering health, social care, and public health. It also affirmed that DHSC works with NHS England to incorporate workforce planning into all NHS …
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Department of Health and Social Care
17 Recommendation Ninth report - Clearing the backlog cau… Accepted in Part

We recommend that the Government undertake an urgent review of short-term recruitment and retention issues...

We recommend that the Government undertake an urgent review of short-term recruitment and retention issues within the health and care workforce, including productivity improvements, sharing of best practice through data, removal of professional demarcation, use of technology, additional training places and additional immigration measures. This should be published before the … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government accepted in principle the need to address recruitment and retention issues, stating NHS England will publish a refreshed People Plan for 2022/23 as soon as practicable to address these, including productivity improvements, technology use, and training.
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Department of Health and Social Care
28 Recommendation Ninth report - Clearing the backlog cau… Accepted in Part

To encourage better integration and mutual understanding across health and social care, we again recommend...

To encourage better integration and mutual understanding across health and social care, we again recommend that a duty is placed on ICSs so that where a decision by an ICS affects carers and the social care sector, the ICS must undertake a formal consultation with the groups and sectors affected. Read more

Government response AI summary
The government agrees on integration's importance, noting the Health and Care Act 2022 places a duty on ICBs to promote integration and that statutory guidance will clarify expectations for wide engagement, including with carers, without committing to a specific formal consultation duty.
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Department of Health and Social Care

Oral evidence sessions

4 sessions
Date Witnesses
2 Nov 2021 Rt Hon Sajid Javid · Department of Health and Social Care View ↗
19 Oct 2021 Amanda Pritchard · NHS England, Ben Zaranko · Institute for Fiscal Studies, Professor Stephen Powis · NHS England, Sarah Lambrechts, Expert by experience, Siva Anandaciva · The Kings Fund View ↗
21 Sep 2021 Dr Adrian James · The Royal College of Psychiatrists, Dr Melissa Heightman · University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Helen Lunt Davies, Expert by experience, Lere Fisher, Expert by experience, Ondine Sherwood · LongCovidSOS, Professor Martin Marshall CBE · Royal College of General Practitioners View ↗
7 Sep 2021 Anita Charlesworth · Health Foundation, Dr Andrew Goddard · Royal College of Physicians, Dr Katherine Henderson · Royal College of Emergency Medicine, James Wilkinson, expert by experience, Professor Neil Mortensen · Royal College of Surgeons of England, Shirley Cochrane, expert by experience View ↗

Who gave evidence

18 witnesses
WitnessOrganisationSessions
Amanda Pritchard · Chief Executive Officer NHS England 1
Anita Charlesworth · Senior Economic Adviser Health Foundation 1
Ben Zaranko · Research Economist Institute for Fiscal Studies 1
Dr Adrian James · President The Royal College of Psychiatrists 1
Dr Andrew Goddard · President Royal College of Physicians 1
Dr Katherine Henderson · President Royal College of Emergency Medicine 1
Dr Melissa Heightman · Clinical lead, Post-COVID assessment service University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust 1
Helen Lunt Davies, Expert by experience 1
James Wilkinson, expert by experience 1
Lere Fisher, Expert by experience 1
Ondine Sherwood · Co-Founder LongCovidSOS 1
Professor Martin Marshall CBE · Chair Royal College of General Practitioners 1
Professor Neil Mortensen · President Royal College of Surgeons of England 1
Professor Stephen Powis · National Medical Director NHS England 1
Rt Hon Sajid Javid · Secretary of State Department of Health and Social Care 1
Sarah Lambrechts, Expert by experience 1
Shirley Cochrane, expert by experience 1
Siva Anandaciva · Director of Policy, Events and Partnerships The Kings Fund 1

Correspondence

2 letters
DateDirectionTitle
30 Nov 2021 To cttee Letter from the Secretary of State on CQC integrated care systems dated 12.11.21
19 Nov 2021 To cttee Letter from the Secretary of State on General Practitioners and PCR tests dated…