On 31 July Sir Simon Stevens wrote to key figures across the NHS, local authorities and local resilience teams to set out the NHS response to the third phase of Covid-19 and priorities for the rest of 2020/21.
The letter asks local system leads to produce a summary draft plan by 1 September to outline how they will deliver on this and to submit a final plan by 21 September, produced through partnership work across STPs/ICSs in England.
Local third phase plans are expected to address how they will ensure:
- A return to near-normal levels of non-Covid health services and a restoration of primary and community care services
- Safety is maximised for patients and practitioners
- Communication is undertaken with patients whose care has been disrupted to plan ongoing care
- Safe and appropriate discharge and discharge to assess is in place by 1September
- Improvements are made to mental health services and provision for people with learning disability and/or autism
- Continued vigilance in light of local spikes/lockdowns
- Preparation for winter pressures
- Development of a local People Plan to increase staffing, improve retention and support for staff and take action on inequalities.
The CSP's response
In response to this, the CSP has written to all 44 STPs/ICSs in England to highlight how physiotherapy and rehabilitation are critical to successful delivery of the third phase, fundamental to the recovery and key to preparation for the winter months. We have also offered CSP’s help to those charged with developing local third phase plans, inviting STPs/ICS to contact us via cre@csp.co.uk.
Download the briefing to find out more, or read the letter from Sir Simon Stevens.