This briefing focuses on NHS workforce flexibilities and innovations which were accelerated during the first peak of the COVID-19 pandemic in England. 

It has been directly informed by trust leaders, drawn from the conclusions of a roundtable discussion that we held in July, which focused on changes to workforce management. 

The briefing explores and makes recommendations on six key areas of change:

1. staff wellbeing
2. flexibility in staff deployment and roles
3. cross-organisational working and regulation
4. technology
5. making use of new roles
6. funding.

The speed at which workforce innovations and flexibilities have been implemented in the NHS since the outbreak of COVID-19 has been both impressive and encouraging. These changes should be codified into policy and practice, to ensure that valuable improvements secured in the first peak of COVID-19 are not lost.