Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 22
22
DHSC and MHCLG explained that for the 800,000 vulnerable people that the contact centre could...
Conclusion
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 identify their need for support.54 These details were given by the contact centre to local authorities starting from 28 April, over one month after the start of shielding. MHCLG told us that local authorities had, before 28 April, received the full shielded patient list and the details of those who had registered for support by then and that they had started contacting people before receiving the details of the 800,000 ‘uncontactables’.55
Government Response
Not Addressed
HM Government
Not Addressed
5: PAC conclusion: MHCLG and DHSC do not know whether 800,000 clinically extremely vulnerable people slipped through the net and missed out on much needed support. 5: PAC recommendation: MHCLG should urgently update the Committee on whether it has now successfully confirmed the support needs of all vulnerable people, including the additional 1.7 million people advised to shield in February 2021. 5.1 The government disagrees with the Committee’s recommendation. 5.2 The government disagrees with both the Committee’s conclusion and recom- mendation. People who are clinically extremely vulnerable have been identified by the NHS through clinical records. The government has taken all reasonable steps to alert CEV individuals to shielding guidance and support, including the 1.7 million additional individuals who were advised to shield in February 2021. A letter is sent to all CEV people whenever shielding is introduced, as well as an email where an email address is available. This includes information on the support available and how to register need. CEV people, or someone on their behalf, were able to register on–line through the National Shielding Support Service (NSSS) or contact their council. Councils have also carried out proactive communications to their clinically extremely vulnerable citizens. After July 2020, the Shielding Framework stipulated that councils should contact people who are clinically extremely vulnerable who had recently been added to the SPL, those who registered support needs on the NSSS website and those previously in receipt of support. 5.3 Some people who are clinically extremely vulnerable made a personal choice not to register their support needs; intelligence from local councils gave assurances that most were able to remain self-sufficient and many did not want to be contacted. Regular outcomes data were collected from councils from November 2020 onwards. The figures confirmed that councils were supporting approximately three times more people than had requested support through the NSSS, which provided assurance that they were meeting the needs of their clinically extremely vulnerable populations.