Recommendations & Conclusions
5 items
1
Recommendation
Ninth report - Clearing the backlog cau…
Acknowledged
Our key new recommendation is that, by April 2022, the Department of Health and Social Care works with NHS England to produce a broader national health and care recovery plan that goes beyond the elective backlog to emergency care, mental health, primary care, community care and social care. It should …
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Our key new recommendation is that, by April 2022, the Department of Health and Social Care works with NHS England to produce a broader national health and care recovery plan that goes beyond the elective backlog to emergency care, mental health, primary care, community care and social care. It should be sensitive to the needs of local populations, incorporate the plans already announced in the ten-year plan, and explain how they will be delivered by the new Integrated Care Boards (ICBs). That plan must also set out a clear vision for what ‘success’ in tackling the backlog will look like to patients. In setting those metrics for success, the plan must take account of the risk that a reliance on numerical targets alone will deprioritise key services and risk patient safety. Instead, it must embrace a range of indicators to demonstrate that hidden backlogs are also being tackled and compassionate cultures encouraged.
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Government response AI summary
The government acknowledges the importance of integrated services, referencing existing plans and stating they will continue to develop and refine recovery plans, but does not commit to the specific broad national recovery plan by the specified deadline.
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Department of Health and Social Care
5
Conclusion
Ninth report - Clearing the backlog cau…
Acknowledged
Managed well, we see enormous potential for a beefed-up version of 111 to regulate the demands on emergency departments and ensure that patients get the right care, in the right place, at the right time. However, we acknowledge concerns that without sufficient clinical validation these objectives cannot be met. Without …
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Managed well, we see enormous potential for a beefed-up version of 111 to regulate the demands on emergency departments and ensure that patients get the right care, in the right place, at the right time. However, we acknowledge concerns that without sufficient clinical validation these objectives cannot be met. Without robust evidence from the evaluation of the pilot so far, we cannot judge its success Clearing the backlog caused by the pandemic 35 or suggest improvements. We are already part of the way through a challenging winter—if findings are not available soon, NHS England risks missing opportunities to improve services at this crucial time.
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Government response AI summary
The government states that NHS England is evaluating the NHS 111 First service and a final report assessing its impact on emergency departments and patient outcomes will be published in due course.
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Department of Health and Social Care
10
Recommendation
Ninth report - Clearing the backlog cau…
Acknowledged
The national health and care recovery plan must set out a clear vision for what ‘success’ in tackling the backlog will look like, and what patients can expect their care to look like in their local area in the coming years. The plan must include minimum expectations for ICBs in …
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The national health and care recovery plan must set out a clear vision for what ‘success’ in tackling the backlog will look like, and what patients can expect their care to look like in their local area in the coming years. The plan must include minimum expectations for ICBs in managing waiting lists actively and communicating with patients awaiting planned care. The Department of Health and Social Care, NHS England and local ICBs must share responsibility for communicating the ‘offer’ to the wider public, considering the “social backlog” facing many members of the public. We request the Department of Health and Social Care to report back to us on how this will be delivered. (Paragraph 66) 36 Clearing the backlog caused by the pandemic
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Government response AI summary
The government acknowledges the importance of setting a clear vision for success and patient communication, stating NHS England is responsible for this and is working on effective patient communication and waiting list management.
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Department of Health and Social Care
20
Conclusion
Ninth report - Clearing the backlog cau…
Acknowledged
An NHS running too ‘hot’ for patients to move from crowded emergency departments into wards cannot provide safe, efficient or effective care in the long- term. Furthermore, the advent of ICSs offers an opportunity to provide patients with more integrated care so that they can leave hospital promptly once medically …
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An NHS running too ‘hot’ for patients to move from crowded emergency departments into wards cannot provide safe, efficient or effective care in the long- term. Furthermore, the advent of ICSs offers an opportunity to provide patients with more integrated care so that they can leave hospital promptly once medically fit.
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Government response AI summary
The government accepted in principle the committee's conclusion that an NHS running 'too hot' impacts care and that ICSs offer opportunities for integrated care, committing generally to support the NHS.
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Department of Health and Social Care
25
Recommendation
Ninth report - Clearing the backlog cau…
Acknowledged
We recommend that NHS England, together with ICBs and the new Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID), work together to deliver regional and national coordination as the system tackles the backlog in elective care. If the independent sector is to prove an effective partner in tackling that backlog, the …
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We recommend that NHS England, together with ICBs and the new Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID), work together to deliver regional and national coordination as the system tackles the backlog in elective care. If the independent sector is to prove an effective partner in tackling that backlog, the Government must ensure that plans take into account people living in those areas with less access to independent care. The goal must be equity of access to care on waiting lists regardless of geographic location.
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Government response AI summary
The government stated the Elective Recovery Taskforce is working to ensure innovative solutions provide equitable access to care across the country, including promoting collaboration and patient travel for faster treatment.
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Department of Health and Social Care