Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 11
11
As well as NHS Digital using patient data to add people to the shielding list,...
Conclusion
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 brought the total to 1.8 million by 18 April and then 2.2 million by 7 May.20 As people were added, NHS England & NHS Improvement (NHSE&I) sent them letters advising them to shield and of their eligibility for support.21 We received written submissions from charities which reported delays in people receiving these letters, potentially putting them at risk of infection, and causing distress and delays in accessing support.22 Overall, 900,000 people were added to the list between 18 April and 7 May.23
Government Response
Not Addressed
HM Government
Not Addressed
2.2 Whilst the government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation, it does not agree with the conclusion that DHSC and NHS Digital took too long to identify all clinically extremely vulnerable people. Given the data available at the time, and the novelty of shielding policy, NHS Digital, DHSC, and frontline clinicians worked as quickly as possible to identify CEV people at the start of the pandemic. However, the government is committed to learning the lessons from this process to improve how national data is used to identify at risk groups in the future.