Publication - Strategy/plan

NHS Scotland - winter preparedness plan: 2020 to 2021

The Winter Preparedness Plan sets out, at a high level, the broad context and priorities for the NHS in Scotland until March 2021.

Activity to Support Our Winter Preparedness

The majority of all Phase 1 cohorts to be vaccinated for flu by December 2020
In preparation for an approved COVID-19 vaccine, develop a strategic framework, a national delivery plan and a service delivery manual to support delivery of a new vaccine by the end of November

Increase testing capacity to at least 65,000 per day by Dec 2020 (across UKG and Scottish labs). Our primary focus is on those with symptoms, with additional capacity for asymptomatic testing to protect the most vulnerable groups
Ensure mechanisms are in place to deliver contact tracing and isolation support
Continue to prioritise resourcing for contact tracing as a key measure to break the chains of transmission and suppress the virus
Ensure that appropriate population surveillance testing is in place to track prevalence of COVID-19

COVID Community Pathway maintained, with hubs and assessment centres
Secure and maintain at least four months’ supply of all the key PPE commodities from end of October
Maintain provision of urgent & emergency care 24/7, including resilience in place for festive period
Implement the first phase of redesign of urgent care by November
Deliver surge capacity of approximately 3000 repurposed acute beds, including ICU, CPAP ready and normal acute beds
Procure and maintain a national stockpile of 60 ICU and supportive care medicines by end of November
Maintain mental health service provision and build on the learning from this period to deliver a set of mental health services which are stronger and better

Maintain and enhance support for general practice
COVID Community Pathway maintained, with hubs and assessment centres
Enhance the NHS Pharmacy First Scotland Service
Restart full range of routine NHS dental care by November
Secure and maintain at least four months’ supply of all the key PPE commodities from end of October
Maximise the use of NHS Golden Jubilee, NHS Louisa Jordan and the independent sector for elective activity, using clinical urgency to prioritise decisions on patients’ treatment
Maintain mental health service provision and build on the learning from this period to deliver a set of mental health services which are stronger and better
Maintain and enhance use of digital tools, such as Near Me and Remote Patient Pathways

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