The NHS is facing a winter of unprecedented challenge as it tries to tackle the treatment backlog as well as the ongoing impact of the pandemic. At the same time, integrated care systems are taking shape across the country, and more change is promised by the health and care bill.

Throughout the pandemic, healthcare organisations used digital in new ways to help them to prioritise care and ensure the most vulnerable were protected and included. How can we ensure the learning from this isn’t lost as we move towards a “new normal”? How can we make sure that health and care services are accessible to those who need them? Important questions include:

• How can we take the opportunity to build a more inclusive health and care service as we move forward – covid has given us more information about deprivation how can this be used to drive improvement?
• How can we collaborate locally to plan and deliver better and more inclusive integrated care? What is the role for primary care?
• How can we develop digital pathways that not only help tackle the immediate challenges of covid and the backlog, but also promote inclusion?

This HSJ webinar, run in association with Cerner, brought together a small panel of experts to discuss these important issues.