The King's Fund, Nuffield Trust and Health Foundation have issued a joint plan for the Health and Social Care workforce, which is a make-or-break factor in the operation of the NHS. Without changes to present practice, nursing vacancies could reach 108,000 in 10 years time, they say. In their report the organisations recommend
- Paying a cost of living allowance to nursing students and covering fees for postgraduate nursing students,
- Recruiting 5,000 nurses internationally per year
- Train more GPs AND move to a multidisciplinary primary care approach
- Better career offer by NHS and be a better employer
- Staff pay must rise with general pay levels after current deal ends in 2021
- Sort out pay problems of highly paid staff
- Compassionate and inclusive leadership
- Fourfold increase in staff development budget
- Sector specific immigration procedures for social care workers
- Revised funding deal for social care