Tag: Department of Health and Social Care

The press release issued by the Department of Health and Social Care on 9 October 2023.

Next phase of domestic recruitment campaign ‘Made with Care’ launches today to encourage people with the right qualities to begin a career in adult social care.

• Campaign to reach millions of people via video on demand, radio and digital channels
• A range of free and easy-to-use resources will be provided to the adult social care sector to support employers filling in their vacancies

People looking to make a genuine difference to people’s lives are being encouraged to join the adult social care workforce through a government recruitment campaign launching today.

The ‘Made with Care’ campaign is returning for a third year, with advertising promoting the wide range of opportunities available to people across England to build a career in adult social care and help people live happy, healthy, fulfilling lives.

Minister for Care Helen Whately said:

Our care system depends on dedicated care workers who make a difference to the lives of so many people in need of support. This campaign helps build that vital workforce.

I encourage anyone considering the next step in their career, whether just starting out or thinking of their next move, to go online and explore the wide range of opportunities in the care sector.

Running until the end of March 2024, campaign advertising will appear to millions across video on demand platforms such as ITVX, Sky Go and Channel 4; radio and digital audio channels such as Spotify and social media and digital channels like Facebook and Instagram, to direct job seekers to www.adultsocialcare.co.uk.

This year’s campaign builds on the success of last year, which saw over 244,000 candidates search for a social care job on the website after seeing the campaign.

The campaign aims to show the amazing work that care workers do, celebrate the way they empower the people they care for and shine a light on the emotional rewards of the role, to inspire more people to consider a career in adult social care.

Many entry level roles don’t require any specific qualifications – training will be provided on the job, and there are a variety of roles available so those interested in care work can find a job that will fit around them.

Minister for Employment, Guy Opperman MP added:

From care assistants to support workers, there are vacancies across England with a variety of employers that could help jobseekers take their next step on the career ladder.

Anyone interested in a social care role should tap into the free resources available, including our Find a Job portal and their local Jobcentre.

Beverley Tarka, President of the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services said:

There aren’t many jobs where you can really make a difference to people’s lives, but social care gives you the opportunity to do that every day.  From helping people to live independently, to taking part in their communities and doing the things that help them to enjoy life whatever challenges they might face.

I’ve worked in adult social care for more than 30 years and everyday it feels a real privilege to have such a positive impact for people in my community.  There are currently 152,000 opportunities to improve people’s lives, and I hope this campaign will encourage people to think again about a job in social care.

Oonagh Smyth, CEO of Skills for Care, said:

The figures from our Adult Social Care Workforce Data Set show that, in 2022/23, the sector had around 152,000 vacancies on any given day, so we need to tell a really compelling story about how rewarding a career in social care can be. In particular, we need to try to attract more men and younger people, who are under-represented in the workforce.

We hope this new campaign will help to attract more people into vital care roles – and we’d encourage employers to use it to support their local recruitment efforts.

While the campaign will look to encourage the public to consider if a career in social care may be suitable for them, the Department of Health and Social Care is also calling for all care providers to list their vacancies on the Department of Work and Pension’s ‘Find a Job’ portal, to ensure job seekers visiting the campaign website (www.adultsocialcare.co.uk) can find roles in their local area.

Department for Work and Pensions is also working hard to boost hiring for the sector ahead of the Winter with an expected 100 multi-sector jobs fairs planned, where social care jobs will be on offer between October and Christmas. Jobseekers can speak directly with employers at these events.

At www.adultsocialcare.co.uk, people will be able to find everything they need to research a career in adult social care and, crucially, search and apply for adult social care jobs near them – with support to perfect their CV and advice on interviews.

The campaign is designed to encourage applications from the right personnel but also to make the recruitment process easier with free resources to help providers fill their vacancies.

These will include:

• Free printable and digital assets with flexible branding to use when advertising job opportunities
• The ability to advertise job roles for free on adultsocialcare.co.uk with an audience of thousands

The government is fully committed to the 10-year vision to reform adult social care. Our Next Steps to put People at the Heart of Care plan sets out how we are spending £700 million over two years, including £250 million for the workforce to develop their skills and careers, on top of our £7.5 billion investment to help reduce adult social care waiting times and increase capacity.

This funding will ease pressure and build a stronger NHS to ensure the people of our country get the care they need and deserve.

The press release issued by the Department of Health and Social Care on 5 October 2023.

People who receive care will benefit from new technology to help improve their independence and reduce avoidable hospital admissions.

The press release issued by the Department of Health and Social Care on 29 September 2023.

Professor Sir Chris Whitty writes for The Times on how using data effectively and safely can improve patient care and bolster research.

The press release issued by the Department of Health and Social Care on 28 September 2023.

More people could be encouraged to purchase alcohol-free drinks under government proposals to make alternatives to alcoholic drinks more widely available.

• Government consults on encouraging more people to choose no and low-alcohol drinks to help those looking to live healthier lives while supporting businesses
• Drinks containing 0.5% alcohol by volume (ABV) could be labelled alcohol free, in line with countries like the USA, New Zealand, Germany and Australia
• Potential changes will make no and low-alcohol drinks more popular and easier to buy, helping shift the market to healthier alternatives

More people could be encouraged to purchase alcohol-free drinks in pubs, restaurants, shops and venues under government proposals to make alternatives to alcoholic drinks more popular and widely available.

The public consultation launched today (28 September 2023) will seek views on whether to raise the threshold for describing a drink as ‘alcohol free’ to 0.5% alcohol by volume (ABV). This is in line with other countries around the world including the USA, Denmark, Germany, Australia, Sweden, Portugal and Belgium. The threshold in the UK is currently 0.05%.

A higher threshold could see more no and low-alcohol products on the market – increasing availability in retail and hospitality and expanding product ranges, giving consumers more options. This could encourage thousands more people to choose an alcohol-free or low-alcohol drink to make healthier choices, moderate alcohol intake and normalise alternatives to alcohol.

The potential changes could drive the productivity of businesses, help remove red tape and allow them to more easily manufacture these drinks to benefit from the multi-billion-pound alcohol-free drinks market.

Public Health Minister Neil O’Brien said:

No and low-alcohol drinks are getting more and more popular, and we are looking to further support their growth. Many other countries around the world already allow more freedom over this. Liberalising labelling guidelines could also help people make more informed choices about the drinks they buy.

We want to encourage the growth of no and low alcohol alternatives for those looking to moderate their alcohol intake.

The government is clear these products should not be marketed to children or consumed by them. Through the consultation, the government is seeking views on measures it can take with industry to prevent children and young people from accessing and consuming these products, including potential age restriction warnings on products.

Views are also being sought on whether to update labelling guidelines, so that manufacturers display the alcohol percentage on any no or low alcohol product clearly on the bottle.

‘Low alcohol’ refers to any product 1.2% ABV or below. Currently, alcohol-free is 0.05% ABV but the government is seeking views on whether to raise this to 0.5% ABV.

Marcos Salazar, CEO of the Adult Non-Alcoholic Beverage Association, said:

As the no and low alcohol category continues to grow and provide greater choice for consumers looking to reduce their alcohol consumption, it is essential that there is consistency between the UK, European and other international markets in terms of labelling.

The Adult Non-Alcoholic Beverage Association (ANBA) welcomes the Department of Health and Social Care’s decision to launch this consultation today, and will continue to work closely with the government to help support its aims of increasing the availability of alcohol-free products for consumers.

Matt Lambert, CEO of The Portman Group, said:

We welcome the new consultation, which we hope will help result in greater clarity on labels and encourage further uptake of low and no alcohol alternatives.

Our annual polling repeatedly shows that these products are already helping UK consumers moderate their drinking and avoid harms such as drink driving.  It is also an important opportunity to highlight the continued commitment of producers to market and sell these products responsibly to adult consumers.

Emma McClarkin OBE, CEO of the British Beer and Pub Association, said:

The BBPA has been calling on government to review low alcohol descriptors for many years. We welcome proposals to align low alcohol descriptors with those of nearly all other global markets. This will create a fairer trading environment for British brewers and pub operators, stimulate innovation and growth in the low and no alcohol category, and provide much needed clarity for British consumers. Labelling of low-alcohol drinks must be relevant and clear, and not risk confusing consumers.

British brewers are leading the charge in the development of low and no alcohol beer, with over 85% of pubs already offering at least one alcohol-free beer. I am proud to have been able to take this even further by working with our members and government on a series of voluntary commitments that I hope will drive even greater awareness of the category and promote availability of low and no alcohol options in pubs across the UK, cementing their vital role in supporting the health and wellbeing of the communities they serve.

A fifth of adults in England currently drink above the low-risk guidelines of 14 units per week – significantly increasing their risk of ill-health, poorer quality of life and even premature death. Views are being sought on how to support those looking to moderate their alcohol consumption and provide them with greater choice when looking for alternatives to alcohol.

The multi-billion-pound alcohol-free drinks market has increased rapidly in recent years, predominantly driven by alcohol-free beer, which has been described as one of the fastest-growing drinks trends in the UK.

Minister for Regulatory Reform, the Earl of Minto, said:

We want the public to know exactly what they are drinking which is why the potential changes are so important. This consultation will help bring about smarter regulations to ensure that businesses aren’t over-burdened, allowing firms to focus on growth and innovation.

Today’s consultation forms part of the government’s wider plans to introduce smarter regulation to grow the economy.

Smarter regulation is about improving regulation and guidance for businesses across the board, ensuring it is as clear, proportionate and does not unnecessarily impose burdens on businesses which restrict innovation and growth. The government will be considering the impacts on businesses of any potential changes to guidance alongside our primary aim of delivering improvements to public health.

This supports a strong programme of work under way to reduce alcohol-related health harms and their impact on life chances.

As part of the NHS Long Term Plan, the government has invested £27 million to establish specialist alcohol care teams in the 25% of hospitals with the highest rates of alcohol-related mortality and deprivation. This is estimated to prevent 50,000 admissions over 5 years and will reduce demand on the NHS.

The government also published a 10-year strategy for tackling drug and alcohol-related harms in 2021, backed by £532 million of new funding over 3 years (to 2024 to 2025) to rebuild drug and alcohol misuse treatment and recovery services in England, as well as increase the availability of inpatient detoxification beds.

The press release issued by the Department of Health and Social Care on 22 September 2023.

Health and Social Care Secretary Steve Barclay has announced measures to tackle aortic dissection, a heart condition that kills 2,000 people every year.

The press release issued by the Department of Health and Social Care on 22 September 2023.

Tuberculosis (TB) cases in England increased by 7% in the first half of 2023 compared to the same timeframe in 2022.

Data from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) indicates that cases of TB in England increased by 7% in the first half of 2023 compared to the same timeframe in 2022, with 2,408 notifications compared to 2,251 in the first 2 quarters of 2022.

While England remains a low-incidence country for tuberculosis, progress towards elimination has stalled in recent years. Ahead of the United Nations (UN) High Level Meeting on tuberculosis, UKHSA is reminding people that TB is not just a problem for other countries – it is impacting increasing numbers of people at home.

TB notification rates in England remain highest in people who are originally from parts of the world where TB is more common and those in large urban areas in England which are associated with higher levels of deprivation, and in inclusion health groups – a term used to describe people who are socially excluded and typically experience multiple overlapping risk factors for poor health. This includes those experiencing homelessness or contact with the criminal justice system.

TB disproportionately impacts certain people, in part, due to the barriers they may face in accessing the interventions designed to identify clinical onset of TB; access to diagnostic and treatment services; ability to self-administer treatment and attendance at follow-ups.

Dr Esther Robinson, Head of the TB Unit at UKHSA, said:

TB is curable and preventable, but despite significant progress towards elimination in recent years, the disease remains a serious public health issue in the UK.

With treatment, most people will make a full recovery. It is very important that those with relevant symptoms are tested for TB and appropriate treatment is started promptly, both for the individual and for the prevention of onward transmission.

As we head into winter, it is important to remember that not every persistent cough, along with a fever, is caused by flu or COVID-19. A cough that usually has mucus and lasts longer than 3 weeks can be caused by a range of other issues, including TB.

Tuberculosis develops slowly, and it may take several weeks, months or even years after you were infected before you notice you’re unwell. Contact your GP if you think you could be at risk so you can get tested and treated.

Multi-drug resistance remains a major concern for TB treatment, but the latest data indicates that the proportion of people with a multi-drug resistant form of the TB bacteria has remained relatively stable in recent years.

The press release issued by the Department of Health and Social Care on 20 September 2023.

Stoptober is back and calling on smokers to join the thousands of others committing to quit from 1 October.

• New research reveals smokers can expect positive changes as soon as 2 weeks after quitting, including having more energy (45%), feeling healthier (42%) and improved breathing (42%)
• Data announced as the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities’ (OHID) national quit smoking campaign, Stoptober, returns to encourage smokers to quit this October and highlights both the immediate benefits and longer-terms gains ex-smokers can expect
• Smoking remains the single biggest cause of preventable illness and death in England with over 5 million people in the country still smoking
• Campaign is supported by TV stars and ex-smokers Bobby Norris and Malin Andersson

A new nationwide survey released today ahead of Stoptober shows nearly all (95%) ex-smokers see positive changes in their life as early as 2 weeks after quitting.

Stoptober’s mass quit attempt will launch on 1 October, calling on smokers in England to join the thousands of others committing to quit. While smoking rates are declining, over 5 million adults in England still smoke and smoking remains the single biggest cause of preventable illness and death in the country – linked to 64,000 deaths a year. The total cost from smoking to society in England is approximately £17 billion a year – this includes the cost to the NHS of treating diseases caused by smoking at approximately £1.9 billion a year.

This supports the government’s bold new measures – such as financial incentives for all pregnant women who smoke to quit – to help us achieve our bold ambition to be Smokefree by 2030.

New data from more than 3,000 ex-smokers, found some of the top benefits they saw within 2 weeks of quitting included having more energy (45%), feeling healthier (42%) and breathing better (42%). In addition to key improvements in health measures, many survey respondents also noted improvement in their ability to exercise (22%), healthier looking skin (24%), their sense of taste returning (25%), and saving money (34%). On average, a smoker could save £38 a week by quitting smoking, which is around £2,000 a year.

These findings reinforce the near-immediate improvements smokers can expect when they quit – including improvements to senses of taste and smell within as little as 48 hours.

NHS doctor, Dr Dawn Harper, said:

As a GP, I am always trying to encourage my patients to quit smoking as I know the detrimental impact it has on so many of our body’s systems. Quitting is one of the best things a smoker can do for their health, and kick starts a range of benefits from easier breathing to reduced coughing to better tasting food. It will also put you on the road to long-term health benefits including reduced risk of heart attack and lung cancer. So why not give it a shot this Stoptober?

Stopping smoking also brings multiple long-term health benefits, including a reduced risk of several cancers and lung diseases. Just one year after quitting, the risk of a heart attack is halved and after 10 years, the risk of death from lung cancer falls to half that of a smoker.

Deputy Chief Medical Officer for England, Dr Jeanelle de Gruchy, said:

Over the past 12 years Stoptober has helped over 2 and a half million people quit. However, while smoking rates are in decline, there are over 5 million adults in England who still smoke, so it’s vital we support everyone to go smoke free. Quitting will improve your health whatever your age and no matter how long you have smoked. It’s never too late to stop. I encourage you to give it a go.

Health Minister, Neil O’Brien, said:

Smoking is the single biggest cause of preventable illness and death. When people quit smoking, the benefits are huge – they are healthier, wealthier and pressure on the NHS eases.

Stoptober will motivate thousands to quit smoking this October by providing people with the support and confidence to go smoke free.

We remain committed to our bold ambition to be smoke free by 2030, bolstered by a package of new measures giving vapes to a million smokers, new financial incentives for pregnant women to quit and new pack inserts to provide support to people to quit.

Stoptober is based on evidence showing that if you can make it to 28 days smoke free, you’re 5 times more likely to quit for good. This year’s new campaign – ‘When you stop smoking, good things start to happen’ – is designed to highlight the immediate benefits smokers can expect when they stop smoking.

While stopping smoking can be challenging, the survey also revealed interesting findings in terms of where people find support to quit, with family and friends (29%) and talking to others who have quit smoking (21%) rated as key motivators. Other top tips included finding a distraction from smoking such as keeping hands busy (37%), changing routine (37%) and going for walks (37%).

Ex-smokers The Only Way Is Essex star Bobby Norris and Love Island’s Malin Andersson are joining the campaign this year to tell their stories of how they quit successfully and encourage others to also give quitting a go.

The Only Way is Essex star, Bobby Norris, said:

Three years ago, I finally made the decision to give up smoking after almost 20 years. I was surprised by how quickly I felt the benefits – I’ve instantly had more energy to do the things I love like improving my fitness, I feel so much healthier, I never want to go back. With the great support on offer via Stoptober I couldn’t recommend a better time to get involved and give it a go from this year.

Campaigner, broadcaster and former Love Islander, Malin Andersson, said:

I quit 2 years ago because I was pregnant but was amazed to discover there are so many other benefits to stopping smoking, such as being able to breathe easier, I had more energy and just felt so much healthier. I used to smoke 8 to 10 cigarettes a day for 8 years – so I know how hard it can be to quit, but after seeing these improvements, I had to stick with it. This could be you too!

Stoptober offers a range of free quitting support, including the NHS Quit Smoking App, Facebook support group, an online Personal Quit Plan and local stop-smoking service look-up tool, as well as advice on stop smoking aids including information on how vaping can help you quit smoking.

For free support to quit this October, search ‘Stoptober’.

The press release issued by the Department of Health and Social Care on 19 September 2023.

The government is considering introducing regulations that would require some doctors and nurses to work during strikes, to protect patient safety.

The press release issued by the Department of Health and Social Care on 16 September 2023.

Legal costs will be capped in lower damages clinical negligence claims to support victims, speed up justice and protect taxpayers and NHS England cash.

• Limits to be placed on how much lawyers receive from lower damages clinical negligence claims
• This will save an estimated £500 million over the next decade which could be spent on patient care
• Changes will better support victims and preserve access to justice

Legal costs will be capped in lower damages clinical negligence claims to support victims, speed up justice and protect taxpayers and NHS England cash.

During the past 16 years claimants’ legal costs have risen four-fold for claims of up to £25,000. The amount spent by NHS England on clinical negligence claims has also risen from £0.6 billion to £2.6 billion despite the number of claims remaining stable.

This has created a situation where the claimants’ legal costs are disproportionate and on average double what the claimant themselves receives.

These costs are funded from the core NHS budget. It is estimated that introducing this system of fixed recoverable costs would save NHS England £500 million during the next decade, which could be spent on patient care.

Minister for Health, Maria Caulfield, said:

We want a fairer system for victims of clinical negligence which provides speedier justice while also protecting NHS and taxpayer funding.

Those providing legal representation are due fair remuneration for providing these services but this should not be out of proportion to the claim or be to the detriment of justice or front line services.

By introducing fixed recoverable costs for clinical negligence claims of £25,000 or below, we’re ensuring a better balance between costs and compensation.

The decision follows a consultation, which the government has now responded to. It concluded that claimant legal costs are too high and the length and complexity of the legal process can also be disproportionate given the relative straightforwardness of many claims at this level. This also means people who have been harmed are waiting longer to receive compensation.

Introducing a system of fixed recoverable costs is expected to speed up the process and at a lower and more proportionate cost while protecting victims and ensuring access to justice continues.

This will not impact on higher value claims and would only affect the level of the claimants’ legal costs, not the compensation for the claimant.

The rate of fixed recoverable costs under the recommendations are higher than those proposed in the consultation. The bolt-on amounts for those claims involving protected parties or children, will rise from £650 to £1,800.

The scheme will also give defendants responsibility for paying the costs of neutral evaluation, where an experienced legal professional evaluates the claim to speed up the process without the need to go to court.

A further 6-week consultation is also being launched to address whether disbursements – legal costs incurred over and above claimants’ legal costs such as court fees – should be included within the fixed costs.

The new rules are expected to come into force in April 2024.

Background information

The National Audit Office report ‘Managing the costs of clinical negligence in trusts’ identified claimant legal costs as a significant driver of the rise in the overall cost of clinical negligence claims in recent years.

These reforms follow Sir Rupert Jackson’s (then Lord Justice Jackson’s) 2017 recommendation that the Civil Justice Council (CJC) develop a bespoke, streamlined system of fixed recoverable costs. In 2022 we consulted on proposals closely aligned to the CJC’s 2019 report recommendations on the fixed recoverable costs process and developed with extensive input from claimant and defendant representatives.

Fixed recoverable costs in lower value clinical negligence claims: consultation outcome

Fixed recoverable costs in lower damages clinical negligence claims – a supplementary consultation on disbursements

The press release issued by the Department of Health and Social Care on 14 September 2023.

Government invests £200 million of new funding to boost NHS resilience and ensure patients receive the care they need this winter.

• £200 million in new funding will help support services through peak months
• Alongside this, £40 million is being invested to bolster social care capacity and improve discharge from hospital
• Funding will ensure patients are seen as quickly as possible, while also driving forward plans to cut waiting lists

The government is investing £200 million to boost resilience in the NHS and help patients get the care they need as quickly as possible this winter.

The new funding announced today comes after the Prime Minister and Health and Social Care Secretary met clinical leaders and NHS chiefs yesterday to drive forward planning to ease pressures in urgent and emergency care while protecting waiting list targets this winter.

Winter is the busiest time for the NHS, with increased pressures from flu, Covid and seasonal illness – combined this year with ongoing pressure from industrial action. That’s why the government has started planning earlier than ever before to ensure patients get the care they need.

The Urgent and Emergency Care Recovery Plan announced earlier this year was backed by £1 billion to boost capacity in the health system by providing 5,000 additional beds, 800 new ambulances and 10,000 virtual wards.

As a result, significant progress has been made – compared to July 2022, Category 2 ambulance response times are now 27 minutes faster, there are 2,500 more general and acute beds and 9,700 virtual ward beds available, and there are 1,500 fewer people stuck in hospital when they are medically fit to be discharged.

That comes on top of the Primary Care Recovery Plan which is freeing up 15 million GP appointments to help end the 8am rush.

The government remains committed to cutting waiting lists – there has been good progress made on the Elective Recovery Plan with 2 year and 18 month waits eliminated so far.

Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, said:

Patients can be reassured that I will always back the NHS, so that those who most need help and support will get the care they need.

Winter is the most challenging time for the health service, which is why we’ve been planning for it all year – with huge government investment to fund new ambulances, beds and virtual wards.

This extra £200 million will bolster the health service during its busiest period, while protecting elective care so we can keep cutting waiting lists.

Health and Social Care Secretary, Steve Barclay, said:

I know winter brings immense challenges for the NHS which is why we are working with health leaders to make sure we are prepared earlier.

We are working closely with trusts to see how we can continue to use technology and new ways of working to strengthen health and social services, alongside the thousands of new hospital beds and hundreds of new ambulances we are already providing.

Yesterday I heard and witnessed first-hand how all parts of the NHS are coming together to make sure it is resilient to winter pressures for years to come.

Chief Executive of NHS England, Amanda Pritchard, said:

NHS staff are already working incredibly hard to prepare for this year with robust plans underway to boost capacity, including through having more ambulances on the road, more beds, and increasing the use of virtual wards.  Today’s clear support and confirmation of funding from the government is welcome.

Since the publication of our Urgent and Emergency Care Recovery Plan at the start of the year and thanks to the efforts of staff, waiting times for ambulances and A&E services have improved for patients and as ever, the public can also play their part – get your winter vaccines when invited and use services in the usual way – 999 in an emergency and 111 online for other health conditions.

Alongside this, £40 million is being invested to improve social care capacity, strengthen admissions avoidance services and boost discharge rates – targeting the areas with the greatest urgent and emergency care challenges. The funding forms part of the £600 million social care winter workforce package – with local authorities in the most challenged integrated care systems now invited to submit proposals.

Local authorities can bid for the £40 million to help boost adult social care provision over the winter months. They will be able to use the funding to buy more services aimed at keeping people out of hospital as well as more packages of home care which allow people to leave hospital more quickly and build back their independence, such as enabling a carer to come to their home a couple of times a day and helping them with tasks including getting dressed. The funding could also be used to increase the amount of specialist dementia support available in the community, services which also help to keep people out of hospital.

Earlier this month, the government allocated £50 million to local authorities to help older people and those with disabilities live safely and independently in their own homes.

Overall, adaptation grants support 50,000 people a year and help people to be discharged from hospital quicker, cutting waiting times – one of the government’s top five priorities.

Health Minister, Helen Whately, said:

We want to support areas with the greatest need this winter, and this extra £40 million will help local authorities boost the support available for people who need it most.

It will improve social care capacity, boost discharge rates and avoid unnecessary admissions, freeing up hospital beds and reducing waits for care.

Louise Ansari, Chief Executive of Healthwatch England, said:

We know that many patients are concerned about being able to access timely care when the NHS is under so much pressure.

Therefore, any extra investment to help ensure people can get care they need this winter will be welcomed by patients and services alike.

Matthew Taylor, Chief Executive of NHS Confederation, said:

Extra resource for the NHS is always welcome and this £200m investment, which we are assured by the Department of Health and Social Care is new and additional money, should help NHS leaders in their efforts to prepare for and mitigate against the impacts of what will be a seriously difficult and challenging winter period. The key issue now is getting the funding to local systems as early as possible so that they can use it most effectively.

This builds on record funding for the NHS and social care, including additional funding already pledged for this winter. In July, the government announced £600 million over the next two years to boost the capacity of the social care workforce and funding for the social care sector this winter and into next year. In August, it announced the allocations of £250 million of capital funding to increase capacity in 30 hospitals across the country. The Urgent and Emergency Care Recovery Plan was backed by £1 billion to provide additional capacity, on top of £1.6 billion of discharge funding over 2023/24 and 2024/25. This was part of the up to £14.1 billion extra funding announced at the Autumn Statement for this year and next, on top of record existing funding.

The government is creating extra capacity, with currently 119 community diagnostic centres (CDCs) and 94 surgical hubs open – helping to deliver thousands more checks, scans, tests and operations. As well as being more convenient for patients, CDCs drive efficiency across the NHS by shielding elective diagnostic services from wider hospital pressures.

Last year, the government established the Elective Recovery Taskforce, made up of academics and experts from the NHS and independent sector, to look for ways to go further to bust the Covid backlogs and reduce waiting times for patients. It has since published an implementation plan, including reviewing the use of the independent sector in training junior NHS staff.