The powers allow NHS England to respond to coronavirus as it “deems appropriate”, but a statement on the DHSC’s website said they were likely to be used for the commissioning of non-NHS providers. The move coincides with NHSE’s decision to continue with some centralised private sector deals for another three months which aims to provide a “smooth transition” to longer-term contracting arrangements. This week, Spire Healthcare Group, one of the large providers involved in discussion with NHSE, issued a statement confirming a new three-month deal had been struck. The extension also fits with the timeline for the whole of England to become integrated care systems by April 2021. It is not yet clear how ICSs will commission care in the financial year 2021-22 as CCGs are slowly phased out, although one suggestion has been that come April 2021 ICSs may be asked to commission all independent sector care centrally for their whole system.