A new workforce plan from the NHS makes it clear that the institution is struggling. Currently, the NHS are operating with 154,000 fewer full-time staff than they require — higher than the officially reported 124,000. According to their reports, they estimate that number will rise to a shortage of 571,000 staff by the year 2036, if trends continue.
This does not constitute advice and advice should be sought in all instances before acting on it.
The NHS sent an over 100 page missive to ministers with a detailed proposal about how to end the understaffing issue that they have been dealing with for years.
Unless something is done to drastically overhaul the recruitment process, within 15 years the NHS will have 28,000 fewer GPs, 44,000 fewer community nurses and even fewer paramedics.
A steady flow of homegrown doctors, nurses, GPs, and dentists are needed to avoid an even bigger crisis.
As a result of the growing and ageing population, the demand for care will only grow in the coming years and without the staff required to service people, many will remain untreated. Especially in rural areas where many already struggle to find care, and with an older population in need of extra assistance and treatment, this could be a disaster waiting to happen.
And while the government has proposed a solution in the form of importing health professionals or a reliance on a temporary basis, the NHS makes the claim that this isn’t the way to go.
Clearly, the NHS is at odds with some members of the government concerning this matter as the proposed plan to increase the number of doctors and nurses trained will reportedly cost billions of pounds to implement. Fortunately, though, there does seem to be support amongst the ranks as key members of government feel that while ambitious, the plans are also realistic, given the scale of the health service and the issues they are facing.
Once the content of the proposal has been confirmed, it will be published, so keep an eye out for more on this developing story affecting NHS staff from all over the country.