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<p>The Department continues to provide additional funding, drive innovation, and supporting
the National Health Service to deliver both the recovery of elective services and
deal with future infection outbreaks and wider pressures. It is however difficult
to ensure there will be no disruptions during future infection outbreaks especially
over winter.</p><p>Operational plans are in place to better manage emergency care
demand and capacity. It includes the largest ever seasonal flu vaccination programme
over winter, COVID-19 booster vaccines for priority groups to reduce infection risk
and a 10-point plan for emergency care, which includes a range of actions across urgent,
primary and community care.</p><p> </p><p>To deliver elective services, the department
has committed £2 billion this year to start to tackle backlogs and a further £8 billion
across the following three years to increase elective activity and transform services,
to improve productivity and expand capacity. At the Spending Review in October 2021,
we also announced £5.9 billion capital investment to further support elective recovery,
diagnostics, and technology over the next three years. This investment is key to increasing
capacity and productivity.</p><p> </p><p>As we have throughout this pandemic, we continue
to work closely with independent sector to make the most effective use of the capacity
and services available, including over winter and if needed during any future outbreaks.</p>
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