Reducing burden and releasing capacity

NHS England and Improvement have written to trusts with an update on the NHS accounts timetable and year-end arrangements. The letter sets out key changes to the timeline and a detailed annex of updated deadlines. NHS England and Improvement are seeking to relax annual reporting requirements and will provide an update on this shortly. The letter provides a clear indication that quality account production will be deferred (and we have been told confidentially the deferral period may be significant) and quality account assurance should cease.

 The letter confirms a number of steps will be taken to minimise burden on providers to free up capacity to prioritise their response to COVID-19, including:

• national programmes are being streamlined, including GIRFT visits to be stood down, outpatient transformation work to focus on video consultation, and prioritising special measures support in agreement with Care Quality Commission
• the letter confirms trusts should continue to hold board meetings but should streamline papers, focus agendas and hold meetings virtually - virtual quality committee meetings should be held but others may be streamlined and delayed
• council of governors meetings should cease, but governors should be sent periodic virtual briefings on key issues
• governor elections can be postponed as necessary
• annual member’s meetings should be deferred
• deadlines for preparation of annual accounts and audit have been extended
• further guidance will be issued on annual reports
• NHS constitutional requirements will be maintained, including A&E waiting times, RTT, cancer, and ambulance waits, in order to maintain continuity and consistency, support system resilience, and enable understanding of the impact of the suspension of non-urgent elective activity on waiting lists
• long-term plan related work, including operational planning and system by default, will pause, while mental health, learning disability and autism will maintain investment guarantees
• while a subset of central data collection will be suspended, including those monitoring delayed transfers of care, mixed sex accommodation breaches and cancelled operation figures, the majority of data collections will remain in place, to maintain operational intelligence and understanding of system pressure.

Read full letter