NHS Resolution published their 2021/22 business plan on Wednesday, detailing their key objectives for the final year of their refreshed five year strategy, Delivering fair resolution and learning from harm.
The plan outlines six key priorities for the next year, in relation to the work already underway across the health and justice sector. It includes targets to resolve disputes and support patient and staff safety through improvements in how healthcare claims are managed.
This hopes to embed a just and learning culture so that, when incidents occur, they are dealt with openly, and investigated and learned from. Ensuring disputes are resolved as early as possible through neutral and less adversarial means, is also a priority.
Other focusses will involve moving claims and concerns to a neutral and less adversarial space, as well as reducing associated costs. New indemnity schemes for general practice and Covid-19 will also be further developed, including reviewing the scheme, pricing and looking at the role of incentives in regards to wider system changes. Steps will also be made to change the technology and data analytics capabilities and infrastructure. The plan will also incorporate a renewed focus on equality, diversity and inclusion.
Helen Vernon, Chief Executive of NHS Resolution, said: “Our new Business Plan will present us with a number of fresh challenges over the coming year.
“The emergence of Covid-19 has led to many healthcare organisations having to rethink their approach, particularly in relation to patient safety and harm reduction.
“Through our plan, we’ll continue to meet the needs of members and stakeholders in response to the pandemic, as well as supporting our own staff through a significant period of change.”
It is hoped that through focusing on the point of incident of harm or concern, resolution will be achieved much earlier, which could help avoid cases escalating into more formal and, often, more expensive processes.
NHS Resolution will start to plan towards the next five years and beyond, developing their new strategy for 2022 onwards. They are keen to build on the successes in their upcoming strategy, that includes a focus on the environment.
