In response to the Secretary of State’s speech to the NHS providers conference, Prof Derek Bell, President of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh, said:
"This College has called on the UK Government to recognise that already low levels of morale in the NHS have been exacerbated by the recent junior doctors’ dispute and the various challenges faced by healthcare professionals at all levels. I am pleased that the Secretary of State has recognised that more needs to be done to value the workforce and improve morale.
"We welcome proposals to encourage more clinicians into management roles. This College supports the development of a better understanding between clinical and managerial staff. Critically, time should be created to allow trainees to become involved in management and leadership roles early in their careers to allow more clinicians to take on leadership roles in the near future.
"It is also essential that the NHS increases opportunities to work and train flexibly. The evolution of the medical workforce has been a positive step forward for the NHS and diversity and flexibility must be encouraged. Additional investment to support doctors returning to work after time out is also welcome.
"While these are positive steps, we continually look at other measures to ensure that the values of time to care, time to train and time for research become an intrinsic part of the culture of the NHS".
ENDS
Contact s.collier@rcpe.ac.uk (link sends e-mail) 0131 247 3658
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