How public services have coped with coronavirus
The coronavirus crisis has placed unprecedented pressure on public services, which have had to cope with increased costs, large workforce absences and the difficulties of providing services while maintaining social distancing. In response to the pandemic, the government has pledged \xa368.7bn since March in support, and suspended governance and regulatory requirements. At the same time services have made greater use of technology, and organisations developed new ways of working.\n\nHow successful have these changes been in maintaining the availability of public services? Which changes should continue beyond the crisis? What does the government need to do to make that possible?\n\nThis event launched the fifth edition of Performance Tracker, an analysis of the performance of five key public services during the pandemic: hospitals, general practice, adult social care, schools and criminal courts.\n\nGraham Atkins, Senior Researcher at the Institute for Government, presented the key findings.\n\nTo discuss, our panel included:\n\nSarah Neville, Global Pharmaceuticals Editor at the Financial Times\nProfessor Andrew Hardy, CEO of University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS Trust and President of CIPFA\nThis event was chaired by Nick Davies, Programme Director at the Institute for Government.\n\nPerformance Tracker is produced in partnership with Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA).