Frontline NHS staff meet in Taunton to have their say on future of NHS
Around 100 frontline NHS staff will be joined by NHS England directors to discuss what they want to see from the government’s 10 Year Health Plan.
Around 100 frontline NHS staff are joining NHS England directors in Taunton today (4th March) to discuss what they want to see from the government’s 10 Year Health Plan.
Staff across the whole of the NHS workforce, as well as social care and public health staff, are coming together to help reshape the health service.
The discussions will be led by independent facilitators, alongside senior NHS figures, to hear the views of staff on what the future of the service should look like.
NHS England’s Director for Staff Experience and Leadership Development, Prof Em Wilkinson-Brice, and NHS South West Regional Chief Nurse Sue Doheny will be in attendance in Taunton today (4th March).
Staff have been nominated to attend across a range of staff types, care settings and communities, including; GPs, nurses, optometrists, consultants, porters, and pharmacists to ensure any impact on local services is kept to a minimum.
Part of the biggest listening event in NHS history, it follows seven nationwide public debates and a series of online staff events that took place last year, with the aim of building a 10 year plan to make the health service fit for future generations.
Health Minister Karin Smyth: "NHS patients should be able to access care closer to home in their community.
"Instead, we’ve inherited a broken NHS leaving far too many on hospital waiting lists awaiting treatment.
“We’re building a neighbourhood health service that can deliver care locally to reverse this trend with our 10 Year Health Plan.
"So we can bring the best of the NHS to the rest of the NHS, we need to hear from staff to learn what is and isn’t working.
“That’s why today’s event in Taunton is so important.
"Even if you’re not at one of our events, we still want to hear your views at change.nhs.uk.”
Professor Em Wilkinson-Brice, Director for Staff Experience and Leadership Development for England, said: “Our hardworking staff know what is needed to transform the NHS and their views and ideas are an essential part of shaping the 10-year health plan.
"We want to hear your experiences, including the good, bad, and sometimes frustrating, because many of the solutions that will enable us to deliver the care we all want for patients, are already out there in parts of the NHS.
"That’s why today’s event in Taunton is so important, because it gives colleagues the chance to have their say and make their voices heard.”
A further six listening events have already been carried out across the England last month in Liverpool, Sheffield, Sutton Coldfield, London, Reading, and Peterborough.