The Marwood Group publishes its Whitehall Report 2021 against a backdrop that sadly remains dominated by Covid-19. However, with 80% of over 16’s having received both vaccination doses and a relaxation of the lockdown restrictions across the UK, there is increasing optimism that the worst of the pandemic may be behind us. Challenges of course remain – and the impact will be felt for years to come – but for the first time in nearly 18 months, health leaders can move from operational survival to strategic planning.

Our report covers the key policy, funding and regulatory developments from August 2020 through to August 2021. Readers will note that the year has been a mixture of the government forging ahead on select policy issues, whilst attempting to manage the pandemic. As a result, a number of lower priority, or potentially politically unpopular, decisions have found themselves delayed. Even as we go to press, the Prime Minister is attempting to steer crucial funding decisions for social care past a sceptical Conservative backbench, whilst attempting to negate any politicisation of the issue by Labour.