Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 14
14
Acknowledged
NHSE has estimated that the NHS was around 16% less productive in 2021 than before...
Conclusion
NHSE has estimated that the NHS was around 16% less productive in 2021 than before the pandemic.29 NHSE’s internal analysis indicated that this drop in productivity was not solely due to immediate pandemic pressures, but also resulted from staff being less likely to work paid or unpaid overtime, and a reduced management focus by NHSE and NHS trusts on cost control and operational rigour.30 In responding to our questions about how it is practically addressing the productivity problem, NHSE said that the work had to begin at the level of individual providers. It told us that a provider should begin by working through available data to understand the specific issues it was facing, in order to come up with a plan to improve productivity. It indicated that it would be leading this kind of process throughout the country during the next annual planning round.31 New programmes and initiatives for recovery
Government Response Summary
The government outlines actions to increase activity, manage demand and increase productivity, stating that NHS England monitors progress and has published planning guidance.
Government Response
Acknowledged
HM Government
Acknowledged
4.2 The actions in the NHS published Delivery Plan are targeted at increasing activity, managing demand or increasing productivity and NHS England carefully monitors progress against delivery targets at regular intervals. 4.3 The 2023-24 priorities and operational planning guidance published on 23 December 2022 detailed three tasks over the coming year; recover core services and productivity; as the NHS recovers, make progress in delivering the key ambitions in the Long Term Plan, and; continue transforming the NHS for the future. To assist in meeting these objectives, NHS England has set out the most critical, evidence-based actions that will support delivery - based on what systems and providers have already demonstrated makes the most difference to patient outcomes, experience, access, and safety.