Joint statement urges government to focus on four priorities whilst developing the new health and care workforce strategy for England

Following Health Education England’s consultation on Facing the Facts, Shaping the Future: A draft health and care workforce strategy for England, leaders from eight Royal Colleges and Faculties have written a joint statement to urge the government and its partners to prioritise four key points whilst developing the new strategy.
 
They state:
 
‘We welcome Facing the Facts, Shaping the Future: A draft health and care workforce strategy for England as a commitment to take a long term strategic approach to service, financial and workforce planning across all areas where health care professionals work. We agree with the broad direction of travel and the common sense principles outlined.

While we have commented on different aspects of the consultation document, there are four points that we agree are of immediate concern. We urge the government and its partners to prioritise them as it develops the strategy. In so doing,  a modern and sustainable workforce delivering the right care in the right place will  be developed.

1.      While we can and will act now, we need a single, robust source of supply and demand data to enable us to plan well for the long term. It must bring together data about the health needs of the population, how many people are in the health and care workforce system, how they move within it, and when and why they leave.

2.       It is critical that the UK is able to employ the healthcare and research staff it needs to reduce the pressure, and improve staff wellbeing and morale. The UK must be accessible and attractive to people from overseas.

3.       We need national leadership and investment in public health initiatives. They are necessary to protect people from harms, help them lead healthier lives and reduce demand on the NHS. Health promotion, prevention and early intervention strategies which start in infancy, can reap benefits in adult life.

4.       There must be further consultation on the first draft of a full strategy, or the government and its partners risk missing an excellent opportunity for consensus and co-production.’
 

Professor Derek Alderson, President, The Royal College of Surgeons 

Professor Jane Dacre, President, The Royal College of Physicians

Professor Michael Lavelle-Jones, President, The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh

Dr. Tajek B Hassan, President, The Royal College of Emergency Medicine

Dr Jane Dickson, Vice President of the Faculty of Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare 

Professor Lesley Regan, President, Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists 

Professor Russell Viner, President, Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health

Janet Davies, Chief Executive and General Secretary, The Royal College of Nursing
 

Notes to editors

The Royal College of Surgeons of England is a professional membership organisation and registered charity, which exists to advance surgical standards and improve patient care.

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