NHS Providers response to the Public Accounts Committee report on readying the NHS and social care for the peak of COVID-19

29 July 2020

Commenting on the Public Accounts Committee's report on readying the NHS and social care for the peak, deputy chief executive Saffron Cordery said:

"The staff working in care homes and across the social care sector have performed critical roles during the pandemic, often managing incredible pressure in very difficult circumstances, often with inadequate PPE and testing limited in the initial weeks of the outbreak.

"Trusts have worked in close partnership with social care for many years and recently working with them to manage the unprecedented challenges posed by COVID-19.

"The pandemic has shone a light on the vulnerability of the social care sector and is indicative of continued, long-term neglect by successive governments to fully fund the system.

"There have been persistent warnings from across the NHS and care sector that investment and reform is urgently needed and the pandemic has thrown this into very sharp relief.

"At this point there needs to be a clear, cross party focus on securing a sustainable future for social care services.

"Lessons have to be learnt quickly, to ensure that should there be a second wave or another novel disease outbreak the Government can deliver a more robust response."