NHS England » NHS Operational Planning and Contracting Guidance

Third phase of NHS response to COVID-19

Sir Simon Stevens, Chief Executive and Amanda Pritchard, Chief Operating Officer wrote out to the NHS on 31 July 2020 outlining the next steps in restoring NHS services in the remainder of 2020/21.

The letter sets out the actions needed to restore and recover services whilst maintaining capacity to deal with future COVID-19 demand and winter pressures.

Read a copy of the phase 3 letter

Read a copy of the implementing phase 3 of the NHS response to the COVID-19 pandemic guidance, version 1.1

Read a copy of the elective letter

Read a copy of the nursing and midwifery response to the third phase of the COVID-19 pandemic

Planning submission process: implementing phase 3 of the NHS response to the COVID-19 pandemic

In response to the planning letter, sustainability and transformation partnerships and integrated care systems are asked to provide draft plans by 1 September 2020, with final plans due by 21 September 2020.

Further to the letter of 31 July 2020 about the third phase of the NHS response to COVID-19, a range of supplementary materials to support implementation can be found below:

Phase 3 planning submission guidance (see section 5 of ‘Implementing phase 3 of the NHS response to the COVID-19 pandemic’).
Activity, performance and workforce technical definitions.
Contracts and payment guidance October 2020 – March 2021

Related publications

Here you will find links to any other supporting or related publications.

Previous planning guidance

NHS Operational Planning and Contracting Guidance 2020/21 (suspended March 2020 in response to COVID-19 pandemic)

NHS Operational Planning and Contracting Guidance 2020/21

NHS Operational Planning and Contracting Guidance 2019/20

NHS Operational Planning and Contracting Guidance 2019/20

NHS Operational Planning and Contracting 2019/20: annexes

Technical and supporting guidance: NHS Operational Planning and Contracting Guidance 2019/20– this technical planning guidance has been produced to support the submission of templates to ensure plans are completed on a consistent basis and to a high standard.
Annex A: 2019/20 planning prices – an explanatory note– contains draft National Tariff Payment System prices to support planning for 2019/20.
Annex B: Guidance for operational and activity plans: assurance statements– this document sets out assurance statement deliverables for 2019/20, for which regions are asked to provide assurance that delivery plans are being put in place.
Annex C: NHS Improvement guidance to trusts for operational plans– the technical guidance for NHS planning for trusts for 2019/20 operational plans.
Annex D: NHS England Guidance for Finance Business Rules– contains guidance and advice on some of the issues that commissioners should consider when setting their 2019/20 operational finance plan.
Annex E: Integration of specialised services with local health and care systems– provides detail on how specialised services will be planned in collaboration with local systems to ensure more joined-up care for patients.
Annex F: Joint Technical Definitions for Performance and Activity 2019/20– contains the technical definitions for measures included in the operational plans collected from providers and commissioners. This is version 2 of the document, which incorporates a new indicator in the provider template, as well as some other slight amendments to the original version. The document contains an errata which describes these changes.
Annex H: CQUIN-These documents provide the guidance for the Commissioning for Quality and Innovation (CQUIN) scheme for 2019/20.
Annex J1: Joint Contract Dispute Resolution Process for new contracts for 2019/20
Annex J2: Updating non-expiring contracts for 2019/20 – Guidance on the process for agreeing Variations and resolving disputes

NHS Standard Contract – The NHS Standard Contract is mandated by NHS England for use by commissioners for all contracts for healthcare services other than primary care. The Contract (in full-length and shorter-form versions) has now been updated for 2019/20.

Section 3 of the Operational Planning Guidance included work on the Evidence Based Interventions Programme which CCGs are required to implement. Further information is available in the Evidence-Based Interventions: Response to the public consultation and next steps document.

Section 3.6 refers to the independent review of the CCG’s achievement of the Mental Health Investment Standard. The document “Assurance Engagement of the Mental Health Investment Standard – briefing for Clinical Commissioning Groups” gives further information.

Refreshing NHS Plans for 2018/19

Refreshing NHS Plans for 2018/19– this is an updated version of the document published on 2 February 2018 which now incorporates two minor changes. These changes are detailed in Corrections to Refreshing NHS Plans for 2018/19

Technical Guidance for Refreshing NHS Plans for 2018/19