The government has been warned that its plans to transform the NHS will require additional funding to address critical issues such as staff shortages, growing waiting lists, and an exhausted
workforce. NHS managers and unions, including nursing leaders, have urged more investment in response to Health Secretary Wes Streeting's promise to reshape the NHS into a "neighbourhood health service."
Streeting has announced plans to engage patients and NHS staff in a "national conversation" this week, aimed at shaping the government's 10-year strategy for the NHS. He stated: “We will rebuild the health service around what patients tell us they need. Our 10-year health plan will preserve the NHS’s traditional values in a modern setting.”
While the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) expressed support for shifting care from hospitals to community settings, its general secretary, Nicola Ranger, warned that the current nursing workforce is insufficient to meet these goals. She highlighted that, without new investment, the number of community nurses could be halved compared to two decades ago. Ranger added that nursing staff are ready to support modernization efforts, but they remain overworked and underappreciated. She emphasized the need for investment to address these issues, particularly after nursing professionals were the only NHS group to reject the government's recent pay offer.
Unison’s head of health, Helga Pile, also criticized the state of the NHS, attributing it to years of mismanagement. She stressed that staff shortages are contributing to longer waiting lists and warned that any plans to overhaul care delivery must include substantial investment in the workforce. Pile argued that improving wages and restructuring pay are key steps to solving the staffing crisis and restoring public confidence in the NHS.
NHS Providers, representing NHS trusts in England, echoed the call for sustainable funding. Deputy chief executive Saffron Cordery said that the government's plans need to address not only workforce shortages but also increasing demand across various services, including mental health, community care, and ambulance services.
Additionally, the National Pharmacy Association (NPA) raised concerns about the financial state of pharmacies. NPA chief executive Paul Rees warned that many pharmacies are at risk of closure before the 10-year NHS plan is even implemented, underscoring the need for immediate action to address the crisis in community pharmacy services.
