NHS England: London Recovery Planning (Consultancy)

London's stated common purpose is to be the world's healthiest global city with the best health and care system. Prior to the pandemic, the health and care system in London faced operational, workforce and estates pressures in all care settings. ICSs analysed their population's health needs and prepared detailed plans to meet them through the delivery of the NHS Long Term Plan. COVID-19 has bought new challenges to the health and care system and will continue to circulate in the community and create demand for NHS services beyond the original forecasts and plans. This creates a fundamentally different set of challenges that need to meet by the London region.

To meet these challenges London has rapidly put together a high-level strategic plan (Journey to a new health and care system) that has the buy-in of the Trusts and the ICS leads. It sets out 12 expectations and outlines 8 core tests that will help the system know when it is succeeding against its ambition and its recovery plan.

To set up and control a programme of work to deliver on these new targets is a complex task. This is made additionally so by the need for rapid delivery whilst incorporating new guidance which is being introduce daily for example the introduction of new infection control measures.

Outside consultancy has been requested to bring independent advice and external knowledge (such as experience of WHO approaches to recovery) to the set-up of the programme. This is a short term need specifically focused on a series of key deliverables to ensure we get the set-up right first time for London.

From 1 April 2019, NHS England and NHS Improvement are working together as a new single organisation to better support the NHS to deliver improved care for patients.