Financial support for the NHS and social care is welcome
19 March 2020
- The government has published the Coronavirus Bill (HC Bill 122).
- It includes a number of provisions to enable the ‘emergency’ and ‘temporary’ registration of healthcare professionals and social workers, and a suspension on NHS pension restrictions for those returning to work.
- It also includes temporary modification of mental health and mental capacity legislation.
- Additionally, the Treasury has started to allocate the £5bn fund announced in the Budget, with £2.9bn allocated to the NHS and social care.
Responding to the publication of the government’s decision to allocate £2.9bn funding to strengthen care for the vulnerable and the Coronavirus Bill, the chief executive of NHS Providers, Chris Hopson said:
“The NHS is facing the biggest challenge in a generation. We welcome today’s announcement by the government as it provides much needed financial support to the health and care system in these difficult times. We now have clarity on how the chancellor’s £5bn emergency funding for coronavirus will be divided, with £2.9bn going to the NHS and social care.
It is good to see that the government has listened to concerns that there needs to be a clear and quick path out of hospitals into social care or back home for those patients who are medically fit, to ensure that capacity is cleared where appropriate.
“It is good to see that the government has listened to concerns that there needs to be a clear and quick path out of hospitals into social care or back home for those patients who are medically fit, to ensure that capacity is cleared where appropriate. This is helpful when combined with the announcement that elective operations will be postponed to free up beds, space and staff so that those with the virus can be prioritised. The NHS is doing everything it can to prepare to handle an increase in demand due to the virus.”