I’m glad there is finally some commitment to actually plan for workforce requirements beyond a short sighted 5 year election cycle but this needed doing at least 15 years ago as it was clear even then that the opening of new medical schools in the early 2000s was going to be inadequate. And that’s just the doctors.
Retention is crucial and there seems little tangible is being done. Flexible working and all the “soft” stuff is great and a long time coming but if your pay gets squeezed each year and seemingly every group of NHS has been pushed to the point of striking largely due to pay then that needs addressing.
The government’s attitude to all the staff who have taken industrial action just shows a lack of interest in fair pay. They’re practically ghosting the junior doctors whose morale is on the floor and now the consultants will be joining them striking at the end of the month too. The GPs are waiting for the next contract renewal which will almost certainly shaft them again too so they’ll probably end up striking next year as well.
A lack of training opportunities isn’t the issue. They need to fix the NHS and pay the staff properly for their effort.
Yup. The opportunities to enter the service are there.
It’s retention that’s dismal. They learn the skills then take them elsewhere.
And I honestly don’t blame them one bit. It’s very, very taxing and important work that isn’t recompensed properly.
Exactly this. Doctors and nurses need to be paid properly and have their wages rise with inflation.
Triple lock for state pension; inflationary pay cuts for NHS.
