Committees

Readying the NHS and social care for the COVID-19 peak

Inquiry

On Monday 22 June, in the next of our new series of work on NAO reports into the Government’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic, we will question the Permanent Secretary and Finance Director at the Department for Health and Social Care; the Chief Executive of the NHS; NHS England; Public Health England and the National Medical Director on the UK’s preparations for the peak of cases and deaths in England.  

The NAO’s report, the basis for our questioning, will provide a factual update on progress with key government actions across health and social care, including:  

  • increasing the availability of healthcare professionals and beds to treat COVID-19 patients while maintaining other essential health services;
  • securing adequate vital supplies, including PPE, testing equipment, and ventilators; and
  • protecting and supporting vulnerable groups, including those residentin care homes and healthcare professionals. 

Questions will focus on the methods used to select providers and award contracts for PPE provision,  the use of consultants and other private contractors in mounting the UK emergency response including building and supplying the Nightingale hospitals, the development of the UK’s testing capacity and contact tracing system, and what capacity the NHS has now to withstand a potential second peak later this year.   

If you have evidence on these questions please submit it here by close of Thursday 18 June 2020.

Reports and government responses

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Fourteenth Report: Readying the NHS and social care for the COVID-19 peak
Inquiry Readying the NHS and social care for the COVID-19 peak
Committees Public Accounts Committee
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Government Response
Treasury minutes: Government response to the Committee of Public Accounts on the Fourteenth report from Session 2019-21
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Oral evidence transcripts

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22 June 2020
Inquiry Readying the NHS and social care for the COVID-19 peak
Committees Public Accounts Committee
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Written evidence

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Readying the NHS and social care for the COVID-19 peak
Witnesses Mrs Louisa Collyer-Hamlin (External Affairs at Care England)
Committees Public Accounts Committee
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WrittenEvidence
Readying the NHS and social care for the COVID-19 peak
Witnesses Miss Jade Hall (Public Affairs and Campaigns Adviser at Local Government Association)
Committees Public Accounts Committee
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WrittenEvidence
Readying the NHS and social care for the COVID-19 peak
Witnesses Dr. Anil Gumber
Committees Public Accounts Committee
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Other publications

Government Response
The Government has undertaken to respond to most committee reports within two months, although there are exceptions to this rule.
1 published
Correspondence
Committees exchange letters with government departments and others, often to request information or follow up on recommendations.
2 published