Read on Twitter
My take on today's select committee hearing with Sir Simon Stevens, Amanda Pritchard & Prof Steve Powis: overall message is that despite rising brilliantly to the Covid challenge it is going to be a BIG struggle to get back to normal.
Good news is that cancer treatment starts have remained at 96% of previous levels - although this won't necessarily reflect the drop in people coming forward because most cancer screening stopped.
However much more worrying that for elective care hospitals only running at 55% of capacity. This was backed up by NHS providers survey saying only 37% of acute trusts feel able to meet needs of all their patients. Long waits ahead for people who need new hips, knees, ankles etc.
But, major change coming to A & Es with 'call before you walk' 111-led system to avoid crowded A & Es. This would avoid risk of infections spreading but even post Covid means moving to Scandinavian system of bookable appointments for non-life threatening urgent & emergency care.
