AACE welcomes first draft NHS Workforce Strategy in 25 years

The NHS has published its first draft Workforce Strategy in almost 25 years and is asking for feedback on it via a national consultation.

The draft Workforce Strategy is designed to present the facts and stimulate debate so that the NHS can plan what to do next to ensure its workforce provides the best quality care to patients, service users, carers, and the public into the future.

AACE Chair Anthony Marsh QAM says:

AACE welcomes this draft strategy and will encourage the wider ambulance service to engage positively during the Consultation to further progress our own workforce ambitions.

Getting the national NHS workforce strategy right is crucial if we are able to successfully support our staff, develop the profession and save more lives so it’s important that our staff and patients have their say.

The full strategy will be published in July 2018, to coincide with the 70th anniversary of the NHS, and will then be updated annually.

Health Education England has led and co-ordinated the document’s production, but are at pains to point out that it is not an HEE document, stating;

…it is from the whole national system with content from NHS England, NHS Improvement, Public Health England, the Care Quality Commission, NICE and the Department of Health.

Each have specific responsibilities which impact on the NHS workforce.

The draft Workforce Strategy is available here. 
Healthcare professionals and members of the public are encouraged to have their say at https://consultation.hee.nhs.uk/