The Strategy Unit

Working together for a healthier post- Covid future

Source- King’s Fund

This analysis, commissioned by the Healthier Futures Academy in the Black Country and West Birmingham, illustrates the effects that a Covid-driven recession could have on population health. It frames a discussion about how the NHS, with other local organisations, can more effectively address the causes as well as the effects of ill health.

To read the summary click here.

NHS Reset

A campaign to shape what the health and care system could look life post COVID

Mental health services have faced unprecedented challenges due to COVID-19. They quickly and effectively moved to different ways of working to protect service users and staff. As we move to the next phase of the pandemic, we expect demand for mental health support to increase and to remain high for some time. This will have serious implications on resourcing and staff wellbeing.

This report from the NHS Reset campaign considers what mental health services need to prepare for, for the expected surge in demand. It also highlights how the health and care system can ‘reset’ the way care and support are planned and delivered in aftermath of COVID-19.

To find out more about the campaign click here.

Evidence updates

Keeping up to date with current awareness

The next chapter in our plan to rebuild: the UK Government’s COVID-19 recovery strategy. Cabinet Office; 2020.
This additional chapter to the recovery strategy sets out the next stages of our plan. It looks ahead to the coming months, covering the tools we will use to suppress the virus, the challenges that winter will bring and how we are preparing for these, and our ambition for continuing to reopen the economy and society when it is safe to do so. The ‘CONTAIN Framework’ sets out how local authorities and national Government will work together to manage local outbreaks.

Remodelling elective hospital services in the COVID-19 era: designing the new normal. King LA. Future Healthcare Journal 2020;7(3):1-4.
The writers suggest six major themes which could affect the design and delivery of elective clinical services in response to the COVID-19 pandemic: hospital avoidance, separation of high- and low-risk groups, screening, maintenance of adequate infection control, and new ways of working.

Over-Exposed and Under-Protected: The Devastating Impact of COVID-19 on Black and Minority Ethnic Communities in Great Britain. Runnymede Trust; 2020.
Black and minority ethnic people are over-represented in COVID-19 severe illness and deaths. This is according to almost every analysis of COVID-19 hospital cases and deaths in the UK by ethnicity carried out by the Intensive Care National Audit and Research Centre (ICNARC), Office for National Statistics, Institute for Fiscal Studies and Public Health England, among others. COVID-19 has had a devastating impact on ethnic minority community


Listening into Action (LiA)

Influencing our future at the NHS

The team want your input, opinions and ideas to identify ways we can improve as a Trust, to enhance not only your experience, but fellow colleagues, service users and patients. Their aim is to make the Trust a great place to work in, which in turn will only have a positive impact on the quality of care provided to our patients.

The LiA team held an event on Tuesday to celebrate the achievements already made. from 1st July 2019, 6,489 ideas for change were identified by staff within the trust. From that 15 teams were created to improve staff experience, from digital teams to equality and diversity, all staff from all stages in their career were listened to. Take a look at the different teams and their accomplishments here.

To complete the survey and voice your opinions, complete this survey by Friday, 4th September.

NHS England

People plan for 2020-2021

The plan sets out what the NHS people can expect from their leaders and each other. It outlines practical actions for employers and systems and includes specific commitments about:

  • Looking after our people – with quality health and wellbeing support for everyone
  • Belonging in the NHS – with a particular focus on tackling the discrimination that some staff face
  • New ways of working and delivering care – making effective use of the full range of our people’s skills and experience
  • Growing for the future – how we recruit and keep our people, and welcome back colleagues who want to return

To find out more or join the conversation click here.