NHS Operational Planning and Contracting Guidance
2021/22 priorities and operational planning guidance 25 March 2021
The 2021/22 priorities and operational planning guidance sets the priorities for the year ahead, against a backdrop of the challenge to restore services, meet new care demands and reduce the care back logs that are a direct consequence of the pandemic, whilst supporting staff recovery and taking further steps to address inequalities in access, experience and outcomes.
Priorities for the year ahead:
A. Supporting the health and wellbeing of staff and taking action on recruitment and retention
B. Delivering the NHS COVID vaccination programme and continuing to meet the needs of patients with COVID-19
C. Building on what we have learned during the pandemic to transform the delivery of services, accelerate the restoration of elective and cancer care and manage the increasing demand on mental health services
D. Expanding primary care capacity to improve access, local health outcomes and address health inequalities
E. Transforming community and urgent and emergency care to prevent inappropriate attendance at emergency departments (ED), improve timely admission to hospital for ED patients and reduce length of stay
F. Working collaboratively across systems to deliver on these priorities.
