On the parliamentary agenda

The CSP works across the four nations to represent members’ interests to governments, influence decision-making and contribute to official consultations. These are the big decisions in the coming months that will affect members.

December 2021

• NHS elective recovery backlog plan
• 9 Nov – VCOD government announcement
• Health and Social Care Select Committee Inquiry ‘The Future of General Practice’: evidence deadline 14 December

January 2022

• Due early 2022 – spring parliamentary session: Reform of the Mental Health Act  
• Due early 2022 – spring parliamentary session: NHS England 15-year workforce strategy
• Pay Review Body evidence due 24 January
• 6 Jan: vaccination as a condition of deployment (VCOD) 12-week grace period begins from when regulations are made to when regulations come into force.

This period is intended to give providers and workers the time to meet the new regulatory requirements. Government has recently indicated that full vaccination status will be regarded as having three doses. Latest guidance can be found here. 

Workforce: recruitment, training and retention in health and social care inquiry: evidence deadline 19 January

Northern Ireland Department of Health’s Health Policy Summit

Health and Care Bill in the House of Lords Committee Stage (where amendments to the Bill are laid and voted on)

During early 2022, the CSP will be monitoring upcoming debates in Westminster on working rights including carers’ rights, paternity leave and protecting pregnant women from 

February 2022

• Welsh Senedd Health committee  inquiry on hospital discharge 3 Feb: last date to get first Covid-19 jab and meet VCOD deadline

March 2022

• 31 March: will have to have had second dose of vaccination by this date under VCOD rules 
• 2 March: AHPF NI Pre-election Event, Long Gallery, Stormont Review of health and social care leadership

April 2022

National Care Service Bill for establishing a new national care service in Scotland, to support health and social care services in local communities, likely to be introduced to Scottish Parliament 1 April – VCOD regulations come into force Health and Care Bill is passed into English law and Integrated Care Systems (ICSs) become statutory bodies (subject to parliamentary approval). Ending the NHS market in England blog by Rob Yeldham

The CSP has represented members’ interests through contributing to a range of government consultations, including: 

• Women’s Health strategy 
• NHSX draft data strategy 
• Social care white paper 
• HEE long term strategic framework for the health and social care workforce
• Flexible working consultation  
• NHS pension scheme contribution changes 
• Health and Social Care Select Committee Inquiry: the future of general practice 

Coming up in 2022, the CSP will be representing members through contributing to: 

• NHS England AHP five-year strategy focus on workforce  
• AHP workforce plans for England local influencing/campaigning 
• National review of out of hospital care 
• Review of health and social care leadership in England 
• Workforce inquiry 

Want to get involved? 

Find out more about the CSP’s campaigning work and please contact the CSP’s policy team policy@csp.org.uk; if you have any queries.