We recognise that Covid-19 presents exceptional difficulties and uncertainties for patients and all providers within primary and secondary care are focussed on supporting patients throughout their clinical pathway. We want people to feel safe coming to appointments at hospitals, clinics and at GP surgeries. We appreciate that some people will still be nervous of attending appointments and have committed that in this unprecedented period patients will be kept on the waiting list, if they choose to defer their appointments or procedures. This policy will be reviewed regularly.

A feature of North Central London’s partnership working and its response to the first wave of Covid-19 is the way we are successfully working together as a health and social care system to deliver the best care possible to those who need it.

To ensure the NHS can continue to deliver the best emergency and planned care across north central London during the winter and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, temporary changes to services for children and young people will commence on 28 September.

At the end of July, NHS England and Improvement signalled that we are moving into Phase 3 of our response to Covid-19. This involves ensuring that we are able to meet the needs of non-Covid patients, with Covid-19 still expected to be in circulation for some time to come. Health and care organisations in NCL are working together to ensure that we are taking appropriate infection prevention and control measures; planning and managing the risk of local outbreaks; and prioritising the health and care needs of all our communities.