The NHS faces an uphill struggle in recovering from the impact of the covid pandemic. It has over 5m patients waiting for consultant-led treatment, increasing demand for mental health services and a potential tsunami of undiagnosed patients who will need to enter the health system for diagnosis and treatment.

Recovery is often talked of in terms of how more procedures and clinics can be held. But that ignores the important role of support services in the patient journey and experience. These services are essential to a smooth flow of patients through the organisation but can also enhance the patient’s whole experience of care.

This HSJ webinar, in association with Sodexo, asked:

• How did non-clinical support services contribute to the NHS during the pandemic? How has that changed the perception of them within the NHS and outside?
• As the NHS recovers from the pandemic, how can support services do more to help it achieve its key aims of treating people swiftly and safely? What will be the balance between new ways of working and investment in services?
• How can the NHS make the most of support services in enhancing patient experience? Are there ways this can be quantified and measured?