Recommendation 23

We were concerned about the NHS needing to call on the same staff who have already worked exceptionally long hours during the first peak in order to deal with the backlogs of treatment, while also standing ready for a potential second peak.66 NHSE&I explained that it was “encouraging people to take leave, so that they are refreshed going into the autumn and winter, as well as encouraging people who have returned to stay with us and those who have volunteered to continue to offer their support”.67 We asked how the NHS was looking after its workforce given the emotional trauma of treating patients with COVID-19 and the fact that the NHS interim people plan had not referred to treating the mental health of its staff. In response, NHSE&I sought to assure us that staff health and wellbeing was a “primary focus nationally, regionally and locally”. It recognised the need for targeted psychological and mental health support for staff across the health service and pointed to plans to roll out more widely an existing mental health programme for doctors as well as helplines and other support for particular staff groups.68 Securing additional capacity