Coronavirus (COVID-19) Special Brief – 24 March 2020

Tuesday 24 March

Tomorrow (Wednesday 25 March), we will host our second Keeping in touch call for VODG members and look forward to welcoming those able to attend to discuss further issues, concerns and solutions in relation to the coronavirus pandemic. These calls, alongside the new COVID-19 Response Hubs, also allow VODG to examine the immediate, interim and long-term impact of the developments arising from the coronavirus pandemic and develop appropriate responses. As ever, if you are unable to join the KIT calls or Response Hubs, please email [email protected] with any points of interest.
Erika Murigi | Head of Communications and Public Affairs 

Coronavirus (COVID-19): key messages

  • The government has today launched an appeal for 250k NHS volunteers. Please see below for news story, as well as new guidance to help communities to volunteer safely from Volunteering Matters.
  • The next VODG member Keeping in touch call takes place tomorrow (Wednesday) from 11.30 until 13.00.
  • CQC has issued updates in relation to its COVID-19 response. Please see below.
  • Digital Social Care has issued guidance on the technology available to support adult social care providers.
  • All feedback, please email [email protected]

Coronavirus (COVID-19): news

Government launches appeal for 250,000 NHS volunteers
Health and social care secretary has urged people to come forward to help the most vulnerable unable to leave homes.
Coronavirus hospital to be set up in ExCel Centre
The space will become a critical care centre, amid fears NHS intensive care units will be overwhelmed.
Benefit reviews and reassessments suspended
Reviews and reassessments for disability benefits are being suspended for the next three months.

Coronavirus (COVID-19): guidance

Local Government Association guidance for workforce
Range of advice on a series of FAQs for local authority COVID-19 workforce.
Government guidance on staying at home and away from others
Guidance on new measures that require people to stay at home, except for very limited purposes.
Exercise of Commissioning Functions by the NHS Commissioning Board (Coronavirus) Directions 2020
Directions that enable NHSE to commission healthcare from independent providers.

Coronavirus (COVID-19): sector response

Updates from Care Quality Commission
Supporting Discharge webinar (slidedeck)
The Better Care Support Team held a webinar to discuss the discharge requirements published last week and to outline the key headlines on how all health and care systems will alter their discharge arrangements and provisions of community support. Also discussed were the reasoning for developing the guidance and the need for collaborative working in order to ensure that everyone that can go home from hospital, does go home from hospital. A recording of the webinar will be uploaded to the The Better Care Exchange.
The Better Care Exchange is a closed collaboration platform, if you are not a member and would like to join, email [email protected]. If you would like to be added to the Better Care Fund Bulletin, please email [email protected].

Coronavirus (COVID-19) resources

How to volunteer safely in response to Coronavirus (COVID-19)
A range of guidance and advice to help communities volunteer safely. From Volunteering Matters.
Information about Coronavirus
Resources on Coronavirus for autistic people and their families. From the National Autistic Society.
Get coronavirus support as an extremely vulnerable person
Registration portal for people with a medical condition that makes them vulnerable to Coronavirus.
Coronavirus - stay at home Easy Read poster
Advice on why people need to stay at home in Easy Read format. From PhotoSymbols.
Long term care responses to coronavirus
Resources to support community and institutional long-term care responses to COVID-19.
HEE e-Learning for Healthcare
Programme created by Health Education England e-Learning for Healthcare in response to the pandemic.
Communications tips for providers
Tips for communicating with staff, service users and families during the pandemic. From the Care Provider Alliance.
Coronavirus (COVID-19) Guidance from Digital Social Care
Information on the technology available to support adult social care providers in England in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.