Guidance to support hospitals with covid recovery over the next
six months has been set out today, as the NHS continues to make
progress against the COVID backlog ahead of a busy winter period.
The NHS Operational Planning Guidance, published ahead of the NHS
board meeting, outlines how hospitals should eliminate long waits
in emergency departments, improve discharge to free up beds
quicker, while continuing to deliver more elective activity.
Mental health and wellbeing support for NHS staff affected by
their experiences during the pandemic will continue to be
prioritised.
The package includes continued financial support so patients can
get immediate care when discharged from hospital, helping to free
up bed numbers.
The programme guarantees four weeks of care for patients
discharged from hospital so they can leave as soon as they are
medically ready.
More patients are also set to benefit from booked appointments in
A&E when they call 111.
The NHS will also continue to make headway on the COVID backlog,
with £1 billion being made available to identify and implement
ways hospitals can quickly increase the number of operations they
perform.
People on the waiting list with the greatest clinical need will
continue to be prioritised, while hospitals will aim to eliminate
cases of people waiting more than two years by March.
The announcement comes alongside a warning that flu cases could
be 50% higher than usual this winter, with hospitals needing to
continue to treat covid patients.
It also follows the toughest summer on record for NHS staff, who
helped perform 3.9 million diagnostic tests and saw 2.6million
patients needing elective care over June and July, all while
dealing with a fivefold increase in covid patients.
The NHS is urging the public to play their part by booking their
booster vaccine or their flu vaccine as soon as they are invited
to ensure they get extra protection ahead of winter.
Professor Stephen Powis, national medical director for the NHS in
England, said:
“NHS staff pulled out all the stops over the summer, making
maximum use of the resources made available getting jabs into
arms, delivering millions more tests, checks, treatments and
operations than they did last year, all while caring for
seriously ill covid patients and almost record levels of patients
in A&E.
“With more patients expected to come forward for care in the
coming months and flu cases also expected to be high, this could
be the NHS’ toughest winter yet, and staff will continue to work
around the clock to make the best possible use of government
funding so patients receive care as quickly as possible.
“Our plan for the next six months of the year will mean hospitals
continue to do as many elective procedures as possible alongside
dealing with this expected spike in winter demand, so I urge
anyone who needs the NHS to come forward, including through NHS
111 Online so that staff can help you with the best option for
your care”.
