Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to help NHS to manage covid-19 over the autumn and winter period following the rise in hospitalisations in covid-19 during the summer.

The Government aims to manage and respond to COVID-19 risks through routine public health interventions and increasing the National Health Service’s resilience to respond to seasonal pressures. NHS England’s winter preparedness plans are communicated to local systems and are currently being reviewed to include the potential impact of COVID19 infection rates.

Symptomatic testing for specific groups in high-risk health and care settings will continue until at least March 2023. In addition, during periods of high prevalence, asymptomatic testing will be available in high-risk settings. Enhanced personal protective equipment will be provided to protect healthcare workers and the patients in line with the latest guidance.

Specific programmes such as the autumn booster vaccination campaign and antiviral treatments for those at increased of COVID-19 infection will also manage the risk from the virus and reduce severe illness and hospitalisations. The Government will continue to keep the response under review to ensure it remains effective and proportionate.