The use of the Independent Sector in providing NHS services during the Covid-19 outbreak; two hospitals experience

Barker, T.; Barker, P.; Sokalsky, L.; McNamara, I.

This paper reviews the activity undertaken between a teaching hospital and its adjacent Independent Hospital and its implementation under the Independent Sector Provider Contract between NHSE and the Independent Sector. Results From the instigation of the NHSE contract with the Independent Sector up until 28th June 2020 The Norfolk and Norwich University NHS Trust (NNUH) delivered 9016 episodes of care including 576 surgical episodes at its nearby Independent Hospital. During the time that a seven day household isolation period was required, no patients from the 31 tested postoperatively were recorded as testing positive for Covid-19. In the month after moving to a mandatory 14 day period of household isolation, 29 patients had their surgery postponed as they were unable to comply with the required period of isolation. Conclusion Working cooperatively with the independent sector can deliver significant additional capacity for the NHS. Fourteen days household isolation may impact on a patient’s decision to have surgery, despite, in some cases, that surgery being time-sensitive. The recommendation from NICE reducing the length of isolation largely reversed this impact.