GMC welcomes Interim People Plan for England

NHS Improvement has unveiled its interim people plan to address workforce challenges faced by the health service. 

Responding to the announcement, Charlie Massey, Chief Executive of the GMC, said:

‘We welcome this interim people plan for England which makes plain the scale of the challenge. It is clear there is now consensus that retaining the excellent doctors and healthcare professionals we already have must be at the heart of building and growing a sustainable workforce. That means a step change in culture and leadership and a renewed focus on improving the wellbeing and working environments of the people who are the bedrock of our health services.

‘We are pleased that the plan acknowledges the need for more flexibility for doctors in training as well as placing greater emphasis on the skills and experience of more senior doctors including specialty and associate specialists. Bringing medical associate practitioners into regulation will further boost those efforts. It is vital that we have a workforce with the right skills in the right places and with the right support, or doctors will come under even greater strain and patient care will suffer.

‘Alongside this the need to establish a clear view of what the NHS and patients need from future doctors – both in terms of care and geographic need – is long overdue. We look forward to contributing to that work as the full People Plan is developed this year. We will continue to do everything possible to maintain the flow of doctors into UK practice, but fundamental reform of our legislation is urgently needed to improve the supply and retention of the medical workforce and to support doctors in providing great care to patients.’

ENDS