• Coronavirus Bill: Summary of Impacts

This summary of impacts relates to clauses within the Coronavirus Bill. It is noted that the policies in the Bill are designed for use temporarily in an emergency. They are noted to be strong in nature, and risks have been considered and discussed throughout this assessment, but it is recognised that in a pandemic situation, with potentially very high counterfactual costs, firm actions may be the most desirable to protect individuals.

• The Coronavirus Act 2020

The Coronavirus Act 2020 is now in force, although some provisions only come into effect by way of regulations.

For a summary of the changes to mental health legislation, read this briefing produced by Tom Ringland and Alexandra Johnstone.

The Coronavirus Act 2020 (Commencement No. 2) Regulations 2020 – Section 15 (local authority care and support) of, and Part 1 of Schedule 12 (powers and duties of local authorities in England) to the Coronavirus Act 2020 came into force on 31 March 2020.

• The Health Protection (Coronavirus) Regulations 2020

Schedule 21 para 24(1) Coronavirus Act 2020 revokes The Health Protection (Coronavirus) Regulations 2020 (S.I. 2020/129).

Cabinet Office

• Coronavirus outbreak FAQs: what you can and can’t do (Updated 1 May 2020)

Government guidance in respect of leaving the house and travel including updated advice for people with learning disabilities or autism.

• Our plan to rebuild: The UK Government’s COVID-19 recovery strategy

This guidance sets out the Government’s road-map for how and when the UK will adjust its response to the COVID-19 crisis (published 11 May 2020).

• PM announces further easing of lockdown restrictions from 4 July Press release – 23 June 2020.
• Press release – Review of two metre social distancing guidance and summary of review findings (published 24 June)
• Press release – Government response to article published in the FT on Wednesday 24 June on ventilators
• Press release – Disabled people exempt from wearing face coverings under new government guidance

The Government has set out a list of face covering exemptions, as they are mandatory in additional enclosed spaces from today (Friday 24 July).

• Guidance – ‘Please give me space’ social distancing cards or badges

Optional badges that can be used to show the carrier may have difficulties or concerns in maintaining social distancing.

• Guidance – What has changed – 9 September

The government has announced new measures to suppress the virus and keep the number of infections down.

Disclosure and Barring Service

• COVID-19: Changes to standard and enhanced ID checking guidelines

To ensure that the necessary DBS checks can still be carried out, the DBS standard and enhanced ID checking guidance will be changed for a temporary period. The change is in effect from 19 March 2020 and allows for ID documents to be viewed over video link and scanned images to be used in advance of the DBS check being submitted.

Public Health England

• Coronavirus (COVID-19): guidance: healthcare professionals (updated 18 May 2020)

A number of targeted guidance documents can be accessed from this link, these relate to primary care, ambulance and community services, infection control and also address what to do when providers have a diagnosed case within their facility. Guidance for the management of staff and patients exposed to the virus was updated on 18 May 2020. The guidance covers staff exposures, staff return to work criteria and patient exposures.

• Coronavirus (COVID-19): residential care, supported living and home care guidance

The guidance sets out how to maintain delivery of care in the event of an outbreak or widespread transmission of COVID-19 and what to do if care workers or individuals being cared for have symptoms of COVID-19. Read our briefing for a summary of the guidance for care homes.

• COVID-19: guidance on shielding and protecting people defined on medical grounds as extremely vulnerable (updated 18 May 2020)

Public Health England is strongly advising people with serious underlying health conditions (designated extremely vulnerable), to follow shielding measures rigorously in order to keep themselves safe and avoid the very high risk of severe illness from coronavirus. The guidance is equally relevant for providers and for friends and family caring for people with the conditions listed. Read our briefing which summarises the guidance.

Care Quality Commission

• Coronavirus (COVID-19) information

The CQC has changed the way they will operate during the coronavirus outbreak. The changes relate to how they work day to day and affect how people communicate and/or send applications or other information. Providers should subscribe to bulletins and follow the CQC’s Twitter feed to receive the latest updates.

• Routine inspections suspended in response to coronavirus outbreak

The CQC has written to all registered health and social care providers about how they are adapting their regulatory approach in response to the coronavirus outbreak. This includes the suspension of routine inspections from 16 March 2020.

There are no changes to the requirements to make notifications or the system used to make them. Providers should continue to notify the CQC of deaths and of events that preclude the carrying on of services ‘safely and properly’ (Regulation 18).

• Supporting adult social care through COVID-19

The regulator has published answers to questions asked by adult social care providers during the coronavirus outbreak (updated 19 May 2020).

Chief Inspector of Adult Social Care, Kate Terroni, discusses how the Care Quality Commission is working to support those working in adult social care to keep people using services and staff safe in these unprecedented times.

•  Death notifications

Notifications about deaths must be sent to CQC without delay in accordance with Care Quality Commission (Registration) Regulations 2009: Regulation 16. Providers must use forms provided by CQC to make notifications under the regulation. The  Death of a person using the service – notification form has been updated to include coronavirus (COVID-19) as a cause of death. The form also asks where the death occurred.

•  Covid-19 registrations (updated 17 April 2020)

This guidance deals with the interim registration process to help meet urgent capacity needs in social care and community services.

•  COVID-19: interim guidance on DBS and other recruitment checks (updated 19 May 2020)

The regulator has produced interim guidance on DBS and other recruitment checks, for providers recruiting staff and volunteers to health and social care services in response to coronavirus (updated 19 May).

• Inappropriate use of sedative medicines to enforce social distancing guidelines (28 April 2020)

CQC has produced guidance in relation to managing vulnerable people who may not understand social distancing guidelines.

• Emergency support framework: what to expect

The regulator has developed an emergency support framework that it intends to follow during the pandemic.

• Understanding the impact of coronavirus on autistic people and people with a learning disability (updated 14 May)

The regulator is doing further work on the data care homes submit to CQC about the deaths of people in their care so that it can better understand the impact of coronavirus (COVID-19) on specific groups of people, including autistic people and people with a learning disability.

• Care Quality Commission and Association of Directors of Adult Social Care Services joint statement on CQC’s Emergency support framework (published 20 May 2020)

Statement from CQC and ADASS on the CQC’S Emergency Support Framework and how they will work collaboratively.

• Insight report into healthcare sector pressures

This Insight document intended to highlight COVID-19 related pressures on the sectors that CQC regulates.  ​

• CQC publishes data on deaths of people with a learning disability (published 2 June)

Supported by ONS, CQC has completed a targeted piece of analysis to better understand the impact of coronavirus (COVID-19) on people with a learning disability, some of whom may also be autistic, and how the number of deaths during this period compares to the number of deaths last year.

• Questions for inspectors on infection prevention and control for NHS acute and mental health trusts (updated 22 June)

Guidance for NHS can be accessed here.

• Guidance on closed cultures

CQC has released new guidance on closed cultures for their inspection teams, to support them to continue to improve how CQC identify and respond to services that might be at risk of developing closed cultures. They are also looking for appropriately experienced  people to join an Expert Advisory Group with places to be allocated via an Expression of Interest process (23 June 2020). Click here for our briefing on closed cultures.

• Registration: flu vaccination arrangements

Considerations for providers when arranging vaccination services

• Return to inspections

CQC confirm a managed return to routine inspection of lower risk services in the autumn with Inspectors scheduling inspections of higher risk services to take place over the summer.

• Inappropriate use of sedative medicines to enforce social distancing guidelines
• 1 September 2020 update: Coronavirus (COVID-19) – Changes to Mental Health Act (MHA) interim methodology
• Employment checks and training in the independent sector

Nursing and Midwifery Council

• Joint statement on expanding the nursing workforce in the Covid-19 outbreak

The NMC describes the actions that are being put into place to deal with this emergency situation. The NMC will continue to explore other options to expand the nursing workforce as this rapidly changing situation evolves.

• Covid-19 Frequently Asked Questions

The NMC has put together this guide to address some common questions about their role as a regulator when it comes to coronavirus (Covid-19). The guidance will be updated as the situation progresses. Broadly it relates to the temporary register and students on placements.

Regulators of Health and Care Professions

• Regulators’ joint statement to healthcare professionals

The regulators of health and care professionals in the UK have taken the unusual step of issuing a joint statement in response to the COVID-19 outbreak. The regulators’ statement is intended to reassure those providing healthcare that the context of their actions will be taken into account should concerns be raised about their care as they tackle the crisis. For further details, see our briefing by Gareth Gibson and Simon Gomersall.

NHS Employers

• Guidance regarding staff welfare

Click here for guidance on staff wellbeing and support and employers’ duty of care. The guidance also addresses the steps to be communicated to staff to ensure infection control procedures are followed and guidance on use of personal protective equipment and specific considerations for staff with underlying health conditions. Should you have any questions in relation to this guidance please contact our specialist employment team.

Click here for other employment briefings from our team.

• Advance care planning and guidance template

• Legal guidance for mental health, learning disability and autism, and specialised commissioning services supporting people of all ages during the coronavirus pandemic (updated  19 May 2020)

This guidance concerns the impact of COVID-19 on the use of the Mental Health Act and supporting systems to safeguard the legal rights of people receiving mental health, learning disabilities and specialised commissioned mental health services.

• Supporting patients of all ages who are unwell with coronavirus (COVID-19) in mental health, learning disability, autism, dementia and specialist inpatient facilities (updated to reflect changes in the case definition for Covid-19 from 18 May 2020)

This guidance has been assessed to identify potential equality impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on people with mental health problems or a learning disability and/or autism.

• Mental Health, Learning Disability and Autism COVID-19 cell bulletin

This bulletin provides those working in organisations across health, care and support systems with a round-up of the new guidance, communication activities and information coming out of the NHS England and Improvement Mental Health, Learning Disability and Autism COVID-19 cell. It is recommended for staff members in social care, the voluntary and independent sectors and the NHS.

• Addressing impact of COVID-19 on BAME staff in the NHS

This guidance facilitates an understanding of which groups are most at risk, so  concerted action can be taken to protect them. Key areas of focus for NHS England and NHS Improvement are set out.

• NHS England and NHS Confederation launch expert research centre on health inequalities

The creation of a new centre to investigate the impact of race and ethnicity on people’s health.

The NHS Business Services Authority

• New life assurance scheme

A new life assurance scheme has been introduced for eligible frontline health and social care workers during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

Resuscitation Council

• Guidance for the resuscitation of COVID-19 patients in hospital

Guidance regarding CPR. Providers are advised to identify as early as possible any patients with a COVID-19 like illness, who are at risk of acute deterioration or cardiac arrest and to take appropriate steps to prevent cardiac arrest and avoid unprotected CPR.

Health and Safety Executive

• RIDDOR reporting of Covid-10.

This guidance deals with reporting requirements under RIDDOR.

• Press release – HSE urges businesses to become COVID-secure
• Management information – Coronavirus (COVID-19) disease reports

Made by employers to HSE and Local Authorities since 10 April 2020

British Geriatric Society

• COVID-19: Managing the COVID-19 pandemic in care homes

This guidance has been developed to help care home staff and NHS staff who work with residents of care homes and their families to support them through the pandemic. It covers practical matters such as isolating residents suspected of having the virus and how to approach end of life care planning.

• Managing delirium in confirmed and suspected cases of COVID-19

Consensus advice outlining recommendations for management of delirium; good general care including prevention, early detection, and non-pharmacological management should be provided as systems allow. Because of the ease of transmission of COVID-19, the risk of harm to others may exceed risk of harm to the individual and this may necessitate earlier use of pharmacological treatment.

CQC, CPA, BMA and RCGP

• Joint Statement on advance care planning

The joint statement emphasises the importance of having an advanced care plan in place, especially for older people, those who are frail or have other serious conditions. This is clear that it is unacceptable for advance care plans, with or without DNAR form completion to be applied to groups of people of any description.

Please contact any member of our team for questions or advice.

Department of Health and Social Care, Care Quality Commission, Public Health England, and NHS England

•  Coronavirus (COVID-19): admission and care of people in care homes

Guidance regarding how to protect care home residents and staff during the coronavirus outbreak. It deals with how to admit residents from hospital and how to care for them safely. This guidance is applicable to registered providers of accommodation for people who need personal or nursing care, including residential care and nursing homes for people with learning disabilities, mental health and/or other disabilities.

The Parliamentary Health Service Ombudsman

The PHSO has indicated that it will not accept new health service complaints nor progress existing ones where this requires contact with the NHS. We will keep the situation under close and regular review.

The BDA

The BDA has reported clarification from NHS England about the way in which mixed practices will be able to obtain financial support. NHS England has confirmed that practices can seek Government supported related to the private aspect of practice income without disqualifying themselves from the NHSE support in respect of NHS income.

The BDA also report that a petition seeking support for directors of small limited companies, such as many dental practice owners, has been signed by more than 200,000 people.

The College of Podiatry

The College of Podiatry is publishing guidance for its members on practice during the Coronavirus crisis.

Royal College of Physicians in London

The Royal College of Physicians has published ethical guidance for frontline staff.

The Faculty of General Dental Practitioners

• Guidance for the safe management of general dental practice (published 1 June)
• Our briefing on the return to work for dental practices during Covid-19 (9 June)

Department for Transport

• Guidance on face coverings on public transport

From 15 June, face coverings will be required while using public transport in England

ICO

• Guidance for employers on workplace testing

Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government

• Letter to all local authorities in England to update them on funding to support interventions for those placed in emergency accommodation, and support for EEA rough sleepers (30 June 2020)

• Press release – Jenrick extends ban on evictions and notice periods

The ban on evictions extended for another 4 weeks and new 6 month notice periods to be in place until at least 31 March 2021.

• Press release – 274 councils set to receive housing support for vulnerable people

The funding will provide interim accommodation and support as part of the government’s commitment to end rough sleeping.

• Guidance – Public health funerals: good practice guidance

Non-statutory guidance for local authorities in England and Wales on public health funerals.

• Guidance – Local Covid-19 outbreaks: lessons learnt and good practice

The report of Dame Mary Ney’s rapid stocktake of lessons learnt from the Leicester City/Leicestershire experience of responding to a local surge in COVID-19 cases.

Department for Business Energy and Industrial Strategy

• Press release – Over £100 million cash boost to manufacture millions of doses of COVID-19 vaccine

New state-of-the-art centre to scale up COVID-19 vaccine and gene therapy manufacturing gets £100 million investment.

• Press release – UK government secures new Covid-19 vaccines and backs global clinical trial

UK citizens will receive early access to 90 million doses of 2 COVID-19 vaccine candidates should they prove safe and effective.

• Press release – Public encouraged to register for COVID-19 vaccine trials as 100,000 already sign-up

Over 100,000 people have volunteered to take part in COVID-19 vaccine trials, helping to speed up efforts to discover a safe and effective vaccine.

Ministry of Justice

• Press release – Video-witnessed wills to be made legal during coronavirus pandemic

The Government is to legalise the remote witnessing of wills – making it easier for people to record their final wishes during the coronavirus pandemic. See also our briefing on this topic.

National Institute for Health and Care Excellence

• NICE publishes new COVID-19 rapid guideline on arranging planned care in hospitals and diagnostic services

NICE has published a guideline on the arrangements the NHS should put in place for patients needing elective surgery and other planned treatments and procedures (including diagnostics and imaging) during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Government Equalities Office, Race Disparity Unit

• Correspondence – COVID-19 health disparity review: letter to stakeholders

Minister for Equalities Kemi Badenoch’s letter to stakeholder engagement participants to the Public Health England Review, to thank them for their work and invite them to further engage with government.

Department for Digital Culture Media and Sport

• Press release – Prime Minister announces stronger enforcement measures as easements resume

The Government has announced a series of tough new enforcement measures targeting the most serious breaches of social distancing restrictions.

Government Digital Service

• Guidance – Get coronavirus support as a clinically extremely vulnerable person: privacy notice

Privacy notice for the service providing coronavirus support to clinically extremely vulnerable people.