NHS’s Shift To Neighbourhoods Could Flounder Without Strengthening The Workforce, Health Committee Tells Govt

The Health and Social Care Committee has warned that the Government’s 10 Year Workforce Plan for the NHS – shifting services from hospitals to neighbourhoods – won’t succeed without improving the working conditions of district nurses and other professionals working in the community.

The workforce of allied health professionals, such as physios, pharmacists and occupational health staff, is similarly highlighted as facing shortages due to poor recruitment and retention. This is blamed on the community sector offering staff worse pay, fewer opportunities to advance their careers, and poorer training than the acute sector.

The cross-party Committee’s warning comes in a letter to the Minister of State for Health, Karin Smith. It includes recommendations based on evidence MPs heard from workforce representatives of different professions within the NHS, who will be key to making the transition to neighbourhood health services a reality.

The Committee’s letter also recommends to Minister Smith that clinical staff working in the acute sector – major hospitals – will need further training before they can be redeployed to neighbourhood services.

The letter states: “The Government must set out what training and support it will put in place to equip healthcare professionals with the specific skills they need to support them to work effectively in community settings, as well as how it will support staff to find the capacity to engage with that training.”

Health and Social Care Committee Chair Layla Moran MP said:
“There is broad support for the principle of shifting NHS services back to neighbourhoods, but this move could flounder if chronic problems aren’t tackled. The forthcoming workforce plan needs to contain concrete action to improve conditions for community-based clinicians and allied health professionals so that these careers will be properly valued and seen as more attractive.”