All-Party Parliamentary Health Group’s Workforce Series Debate

18 Week Support recently had the privilege of participating in an important House of Lords debate, a significant event that delved into the challenges and strategic long-term plans concerning the NHS workforce. This discussion, organised by Policy Connect, aimed to bring to light some of the most pressing issues faced by the healthcare system today and foster informed debate in the House of Lords.? The debate encompassed various issues, including the persistent elective care backlog, A&E waits, a lack of retention of NHS staff, poor staff well-being, continued staff shortages, and slow technology adoption.?

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One of the most critical issues discussed was the alarming waiting times for elective care, with approximately 7.5 million patients in the queue.? A number that has not moved much in the last two years. As per a new independent report by Policy Points, a potential solution that drew significant attention was insourcing, a strategy that could potentially add 1 million additional appointments each year. This innovative approach effectively matches supply with demand and ensures that expensive hospital equipment does not remain underutilised, particularly during weekends, thereby improving the management of waiting times for elective care. This approach operates under tariff, offering a cost-effective way to enhance service delivery.?

Another topic of debate was emergency departments. Prolonged waiting times significantly impact patient satisfaction and the overall efficiency of emergency care services. This issue remains a focal point for improvement within the NHS, as it directly affects the ability to provide prompt and effective care to patients in critical conditions. However, it was noted that perhaps too much political attention is given to A&E, whereas the real solution lies upstream with greater investment and the restructuring of primary and community care.?

The NHS is grappling with significant staff retention challenges, further complicated by low morale and poor well-being among healthcare workers. Simply put, NHS staff do not feel valued. This issue is caused by the demanding nature of healthcare jobs and the high-stress environments in which staff operate, making it an area for immediate attention. The implications of poor staff retention are far-reaching, affecting the morale of healthcare professionals and the overall efficiency and quality of healthcare services provided by the NHS.?

Despite the NHS’s Long-Term Plan to bolster the workforce, the National Audit Office has predicted that staff shortages may persist, particularly among general practitioners (GPs). This forecast suggests that further measures are needed to ensure the recruitment and retention of sufficient staff to meet ongoing healthcare demands.?

A criticism of the NHS raised in the debate was its slow adoption of new technologies at scale, with the NHS humorously noted as having “more pilots than British Airways.” This highlights a broader issue within the system—a need for greater agility and responsiveness in integrating technological advancements at scale to improve healthcare delivery and operational efficiency.?

The panel then concluded by discussing the future priorities for the next government post-general election. The focus was placed on the urgent need for the NHS to embrace digital transformation. The panel emphasised that digitisation and adopting advanced technologies, including Artificial Intelligence, should be at the forefront of the government's agenda. Ensuring better retention of existing staff through training, a better work-life balance and capital investment in building inspiring places to work was highlighted as a key component that needs to be addressed alongside technological advancements to build a more robust and resilient NHS workforce.?