2020: the health policy year in 12 charts, King ' s Fund

January 2020 started with policy fireworks, as plans for new primary care networks (PCNs) nearly went up in smoke. The furore was sparked by mounting criticism from GPs since Christmas over the ' totally unrealistic ' expectations of what could be delivered under the new GP contract specifications. But after this bumpy start, the PCN show was back on the road by early February thanks to concessions and more funding from NHS England and NHS Improvement. This month was also dominated by the continuing spread of a novel coronavirus in East Asia and the UK leaving the European Union nearly four years after the Brexit referendum (two themes that would bookend the year). By the end of the month the NHS had entered the first phase of preparation and response to Covid-19 when it declared a level-four incident to allow NHS England and NHS Improvement to take national control and co-ordination of the response to the pandemic.
Source: Current Awareness Service for Health (CASH) - Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news