THE NHS LONG TERM WORKFORCE PLAN
The Somerset Guardian, 5th July 2023
It is clear to most that the NHS is not working the way that it ought to. What once started out as a service for a smaller population with different expectations is now stretched beyond its capacity.
I was, therefore, reassured when the Prime Minister announced the NHS England Long Term Workforce Plan, which was published last week.
The Plan sets out long term projections for future workforce supply and demand for the next fifteen years and outlines a sensible agenda of reform, productivity and growth. It is funded by more than £2.4 billion of taxpayers’ money, the largest ever expansion of NHS workforce training.
The Plan details the steps needed to train more staff, to retain current NHS workforce and to reform the way we work so that healthcare employees have the correct multidisciplinary skills and can harness digital and technological innovations for their patients’ benefit.
In order to meet the Plan’s objectives, the Government will: double the number of undergraduate medical school training places; increase the number of GP training places by 50% to 6,000 by 2031; nearly double the number of adult nurse training places and expand dentistry places by 40%.
As a result of these domestic training expansions, the Government will reduce reliance on agency staff and international recruitment. In fifteen years, it is expected that around 10% of the NHS workforce will be recruited internationally, compared to nearly a quarter today.
The Government understands that the system needs to modernise in order cope with the increasing demand and any alterations will ensure that patient access to the NHS is faster, fairer and more flexible. The Plan is an important step in supporting the NHS and investing in our young talent so that we can all benefit from a first class healthcare service going forward.
As always, please do not hesitate to contact me if I can be of any assistance: jacob.reesmogg.mp@parliament.uk.
