The RCP has commented on the Health Foundation’s REAL Centre's analysis of NHS workforce supply and demand projections, out today.
Commenting on the analysis, Sir Andrew Goddard, president of the Royal College of Physicians, said:
“Today’s analysis provides yet further evidence of the urgent need to expand the NHS workforce to keep pace with demand.
“We simply cannot run an efficient health service without the right number of staff to support it, including nurses, doctors and other health and care professionals.
“The Royal College of Physicians’ recent census shows that over half of consultant physician posts went unfilled last year, mostly due to a lack of applicants. A possible shortfall of around 160,000 FTE staff across all staff groups by 2030/31 if current trends continue should concern us all. The lack of a clear plan for the NHS and social care from the Conservative candidates hoping to be Prime Minister concerns me. Workforce shortages are the driver of many problems in the NHS, and the problem won’t go away without a clear workforce strategy.
“The next prime minister must take action and commit to deliver the sorely-needed NHS workforce strategy that makes growing and retaining staff a priority."
