The Emergency Bill to strengthen COVID-19 response plans has been now become law. The temporary measures that have been introduced within the Bill, including amendments to existing legislative provisions and the introduction of new statutory powers, are designed to protect public health, increase NHS capacity, strengthen social care and support the public to take action at this time.
The Bill aims to support Government in the following:
- Increasing the available health and social care workforce
- Easing the burden on frontline staff
- Containing and slowing the virus
- Managing the deceased with respect and dignity
- Supporting people
The Bill introduces new registration powers for the Registrars of the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) and the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC). It enables regulators to emergency register suitable people as regulated healthcare professionals, such as occupational therapists. This might include recently retired professionals and students who are near the end of their training. Registered staff can then be used appropriately, with decisions made on a local basis, to increase the available health and social care workforce and enable essential health and care services to function during the height of the epidemic.
The legislation also suspends the rule that currently prevents some NHS staff who return to work after retirement from working more than 16 hours per week, along with rules on abatements and drawn-down of NHS pensions that apply to certain retirees who return to work. Further measures to direct resources include temporarily suspending local authorities’ duties in relation to conducting needs assessments and adult carer support plans/young care statements. Full details of what the Bill will do are published on gov.uk.
The Royal College of Occupational Therapists (RCOT) has carefully reviewed the Bill and considered how the changes the implications for health and social care and our members. We encourage any members who are unsure about what the changes set out in the bill mean to their employment and practice to review our set of COVID-19 FAQs for guidance.
RCOT will continue to review implications for members of the fast evolving COVID-19, along with any changes to laws, in recognition that the Emergency Bill is currently a temporary measure. We recommend members follow us on Twitter at @theRCOT and regularly check the news section of our website for the latest guidance and advice.