NHS facing greatest challenge yet in restarting routine care

14 May 2020

NHS facing greatest challenge yet in restarting routine care

Deputy chief executive Saffron Cordery said:

"The task of caring for patients with COVID-19 has been an unprecedented challenge for the NHS and our briefing – A New Normal – released today, highlights that the NHS faces an even greater challenge in restarting the full range of services.

"This includes carrying out routine operations and we welcome NHS England's guidance on how to get routine care back up and running.

"But no one should underestimate the task at hand to deliver this. The NHS was struggling with demand pre-COVID and now has to manage the care of patients who's care has been put on hold and the new patients who now need non-COVID care.

"The trusts we represent are clear that services have to be restarted as quickly as possible, but this will be done alongside continuing to treat patients with COVID-19.

"The restarting of elective care also requires new processes for ensuring patients’ COVID status is known and that social distancing can be observed across trust sites.

"Concerns about the testing system and availability of PPE remain."