Research Partners Director, Claire Tyers, was delighted to work with Learning and Work Institute to produce discussion papers on the role of the NHS in supporting economic recovery. Now available on Learning and Work’s website, these papers describe the economic impact of COVID-19 and discuss what role the NHS could play as an employer and commissioner to help economic recovery. The current economic crisis stems from a global health pandemic, and inclusive and sustainable economic recovery is necessary to ensure continued investment in good health and good work across the UK.
As Learning and Work describe: “The NHS already supports employment priorities such as providing ‘good work’, employee health and wellbeing, population health related employment programmes, and employment support or health and work interventions. However, as the largest employer in England and as a major purchaser of goods and services, the NHS could play an even greater role in helping tackle the employment impacts of COVID-19 and supporting economic recovery.
NHS England and NHS Improvement commissioned Learning and Work Institute to identify opportunities the NHS could rapidly develop to address the employment impacts of COVID-19 and support social mobility. This work involved a rapid review of evidence and a roundtable discussion focused on how the NHS can strategically use its economic status and assets to stimulate recovery at a local, system, regional and national level. In October 2020, over 40 participants from across health and social care, government departments, universities, colleges, local authorities, and the voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) sector came together to discuss how the NHS should move forward.”
