National NHS orgs send staff to help with vaccine ‘national mission’

The government announced this week that all adults would be offered a booster by the end of January, and that they would be eligible three months after their second dose — requiring a massive expansion of current vaccination rates.

Today NHS England and Improvement published a letter (see attached) on measures to try to achieve this.

It acknowledges workforce is “a rate limiting factor for increasing capacity, particularly in rural areas” and identifies several sources to help.

One is that national arms-length bodies, such as NHSE and I themselves will have to release their staff who are registered health professionals to help. A request has also been made to the military for support.

The letter confirms the NHS will invite adults in age bands, rather than all at once, which some had assumed based on the government’s eligibility announcement. Expansion of booking will begin by 13 December, it says.

It says: ”We recognise the pressure all local services are under, however as the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care has said, the ‘new national mission’ is to increase vaccine capacity… all vaccination sites are now asked to load their NBS calendars to the end of January, where possible.”

Meanwhile, most requirements for GP practices under the quality and outcomes framework have been suspended, as they were last year during covid peaks. A small number of indicators — including vaccination and cervical screening — will remain in place, and practices will have to agree a plan with their commissioner on how care will continue to be provided as needed. Most GP investment and impact fund requirements are also suspended. 

The Care Quality Commission has confirmed routine practice inspections will continue to be paused, the letter says, and assessments will only be carried out if “critical to safety and quality”.

Other workforce measures include asking the the Ministry of Defence to provide military personnel to form rapid deployment vaccination teams; inviting clinical students to work bank shifts when not on placement; re-engagement of volunteers; and NHS Professionals to recruit staff. 

As HSJ reported earlier this week, GP practices and pharmacies providing covid vaccinations will be paid around 20 per cent more than previously, receiving £15 for each jab given Monday to Saturday and £20 for Sunday and Bank Holiday vaccinations from 1 December to 31 January.

The supplement for third doses and booster vaccination of housebound patients will increase from £20 to £30 from 31 December, backdated for those already carried out.

It is hoped that more practices will sign up to take part, having left the programme earlier in the year. A letter signed by NHS leaders, published today, said: “We recognise this additional support may now enable additional PCNs to participate in the vaccination programme… Practices who wish to sign up should liaise with their local commissioner as soon as possible to discuss next steps.”