Covid-19 rapid guideline: arranging planned care in hospitals and diagnostic services – NICE
The purpose of this guideline is to help healthcare professionals deliver efficient planned care while minimising the risk of Covid-19 in the context of increasing or decreasing local prevalence. It also aims to help patients make decisions about their planned care. It is for adults, young people and children in hospitals and diagnostic settings. Planned care covers elective surgery (day surgery and inpatient stays), interventional procedures, diagnostics and imaging. It does not include services where people have ongoing outpatient and day-case procedures such as chemotherapy, radiotherapy and dialysis.

The NHS after Covid-19: the views of provider trust chief executives – NHS Confederation 
This report is based on interviews with thirteen provider trust chief executives in which they discuss the changes they have made to respond to COVID-19, as well as how best to restart and deliver services as we move into the next phase of the pandemic. The interviews took place in late May and early June 2020. The cohort identified three key concerns in  resetting services following the emergency response to the pandemic: staff wellbeing, restarting other NHS services safely, and the long-term impact on health inequalities.

We are the NHS: people plan 2020/21 – action for us all – NHS England
This plan sets out the actions that NHS England, NHS Improvement and Health Education England will take, over the remainder of 2020/21, to support transformation across the whole NHS with a focus on workforce growth and changing the culture of the NHS and support the government commitment to expand our primary care workforce, including GPs and nurses.

Principles for preceptorship – Nursing and Midwifery Council
Preceptorship is the structured start for newly registered nurses, midwives and nursing associates. The principles outlined in this document are for professionals who design and oversee preceptorship programmes, those engaged on preceptorship programmes (preceptees) and those who support preceptees (preceptors).

How to embed flexible working for nurses – NHS Employers
This guidance signposts to the latest research and thinking concerning flexible working, highlights what nurses look for in a flexible role, and identifies a number of key enablers to successfully embedding a culture of flexible working.

Resilient health and care: learning the lessons of covid-19 in the English NHS – Institute for Public Policy Research
This analysis of the state of the health and care system in England in the run up to the Covid-19 pandemic finds that underinvestment in social and community care left four in five hospitals with ‘dangerously low’ spare beds as crisis hit. The report calls for a long-term approach for the health and care service in England, to build resilience for any future crisis and to ensure the system isn’t always ‘running hot’ during normal times.

Coronavirus (COVID-19): support for wellbeing in the healthcare workforce – Cochrane Library
This Special Collection brings together Cochrane evidence on interventions that may help support the wellbeing of the healthcare workforce and reducing occupational stress.

NHS nurse numbers continue to rise with 13,502 more than last year – Department of Health and Social Care. 

• In the year to April 2020, the number of nurses in the NHS in England increased by 13,502.
• The number of doctors increased by 7,890.
• All professionally qualified clinical staff, doctors, nurses, paramedics and support to clinical staff are at record levels.

New blended learning nursing degree – NHS Employers
A new blended learning nursing degree programme has been announced by Health Education England to provide a flexible study option for those wishing to pursue a career in nursing. Starting from January 2021, the blended nursing degree will combine digital and traditional elements of learning and help to attract those who may previously have had barriers to a nursing career.

Supporting staff to return to the workplace – NHS Employers
With the recent announcement to pause shielding for clinically vulnerable people from 1 August 2020, there will be greater numbers of staff returning to the workplace. This guidance outlines: the organisational considerations when planning for staff to return; tips for managers; signposts to useful resources; and good practice examples from NHS trusts.

Report recommends apprenticeship flexibilities – NHS Employers
The All-Party Parliamentary Group on Apprenticeships (APPG) has made a number of key recommendations to improve the delivery and uptake of apprenticeships. Published in its annual report, the APPG’s recommendations include:

• implementing the flexible approach to end-point assessments developed during lockdown
• pausing the expiry of apprenticeship levy funds for at least six months
• allowing a proportion of levy funds to be spent on ‘off the job’ costs
• establishing a stakeholder working group to develop innovative ways to retain apprentices and ensure the continuing talent pipeline.

Resuming health services during the Covid-19 pandemic: what can the NHS learn from other countries? Nuffield Trust
This briefing looks at what approaches other countries around the world have taken to dealing with the pandemic. It considers what might be learned from the approaches used internationally, and how long it might take to fully recover.

Guidance: Healthcare education and training tariff: 2020 to 2021 Department of Health and Social Care 
Information about what the tariffs cover, how to use the tariffs and in what circumstances the national tariffs may be varied.

NHS rolls out ‘COVID-friendly’ cancer treatments – NHS England 
NHS England has earmarked £160 million to fund 50 treatments approved as ‘swaps’ for existing drugs to reduce adverse effects, to take as oral medication at home, or as an alternative to hospital treatment. Covid-secure cancer hubs have also been set up to safely provide surgery.