Bad planning leaves NHS short of front-line staff

The Public Accounts Committee has warned that cost-cutting and bad planning have left the NHS in England short of front-line staff, and that if ministers did not get a “better grip”, the shortfall in midwives, doctors and nurses could get worse.

The report, which looked at clinical care staff including midwives, doctors, nurses and ambulance crews (which account for two thirds of the NHS workforce) said that the bad planning had largely been due to the high level of spending on agency staff over recent years.

Committee chairman Meg Hillier said the government’s approach had shown “serious flaws”, adding that “Front line staff are the lifeblood of the service, yet the supply of these staff in England is not keeping pace with demand.

“This poor workforce planning means patients face the possibility of longer waiting times and a greater cost to the public purse.”

BMA leader Dr Mark Porter, described the situation as “disastrous”.

And the RCN’s general secretary Janet Davies added “What we have seen so far is how short-term decisions and budget cuts lead to nothing but lowered standards of care, which could so easily have been avoided.”

However, a spokesperson from the Department of Health said that plans were underway to increase staff numbers within the NHS, due to rises in spending.

“By 2020 we expect to have 11,420 more doctors working within the NHS, coupled with 10,000 nursing, midwife and allied health professional training places through our reforms.”

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Posted by Karen Motley, Paralegal, Clinical Negligence Department, Chadwick Lawrence LLP (karenmotley@chadlaw.co.uk ), medical negligence lawyers and clinical negligence solicitors in Huddersfield, Leeds, Wakefield and Halifax, West Yorkshire.

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