The RCP has set out its nine key priorities for the resetting and rebuilding of NHS services, now that the initial COVID-19 peak has passed.
The RCP has set out its nine key priorities for the resetting and rebuilding of NHS services, now that the initial COVID-19 peak has passed.
The RCP believes that our healthcare system must not simply return to how it was pre-pandemic. From routine care to reducing health inequalities, particularly for people from ethnic minority backgrounds, we have the opportunity to embed long term improvements.
To ensure the reset and rebuilding of NHS services is effective and focused on reducing health inequality, the RCP, working with its members, patients and carers and the wider health community, will seek to:
1. Support the NHS to resume services with improved integrated ways of working
Service redesign must be co-produced with primary care, social care and patients. We must improve communication, reduce duplication and minimise unnecessary transfer to hospital. We must work with patients with multiple conditions to improve their management. As attendances and admissions rise again, we must redesign outpatient services, acute take management and community provision to avoid crowding in emergency, acute assessment and ambulatory care areas.
2. Increase the workforce
The NHS People Plan must be brought forward. Physician associate regulation must be fast tracked, medical school places should be doubled and there should be more flexible working. Perhaps most importantly, all clinicians must be allowed time and space to rest and recuperate.
3. Encourage protected time for quality improvement, service redesign and research
Our colleagues who have returned to the NHS should be encouraged to stay. All staff must be given time to support service redesign, planning and implementation. Quality improvement and development of expertise in digital medicine must be included in individual and departmental job planning. NHS trusts must involve senior trainees, such as chief registrars, in service redesign.
4. Support education and development, particularly for trainees
We will support members as they resume training, exams and career development. Working with our Trainees Committee, JRCPTB and educational bodies, we will ensure no trainee misses out because of COVID-19. We will work with the Faculty of Physician Associates (FPA) and MRCP(UK) to ensure we continue to deliver reliable, valid and fair exams. We will improve our regional support systems and our digital offering for training and education. We will build on successful RCP initiatives such as the chief registrar programme.
5. Secure a new deal for international workers
Following our success in advocating for the removal of the immigration health surcharge, we will continue to campaign for recognition of international NHS staff. Indefinite leave to remain should be given to health and social care workers and their families who have contributed during the pandemic. The proposed NHS visa should be expanded to include social care staff.
6. Enhance person-centred care, including fair access for patients with multiple conditions
Many patients, most of whom experience significant health inequality, have been identified as needing shielding and that is likely to continue. While support must be consistent and holistically managed, specialties will define what measures should be taken by shielded people, provide shared decision-making resources and support individual assessments.
7. Enable involvement in and access to research for all
Research has been crucial in tackling the pandemic and this could not have happened without a strong system within the NHS. Access to research must be equitable across the country and available to all clinicians and patients who want to participate. There must be a greater focus on research in areas of high disease prevalence.
8. Make social care sustainable
Unsustainable social care profoundly affects the wellbeing of patients and places unnecessary pressure on the NHS. The long-standing calls for greater integration between healthcare and social care must now be answered. The government must give social care parity of esteem with healthcare and reverse the years of underfunding.
9. Harness the potential of digital health
The use of technology in the NHS has advanced significantly during the pandemic, although many UK citizens remain digitally excluded. We must retain positive developments and understand where technology is still inadequate or inappropriate. We will help develop the positive changes already underway on things such as virtual consultations, e-rostering and AI.
Find out more about the RCP’s work to tackle COVID-19 and support the resetting of NHS services.
If you would like more detail on any of the priority areas outlined above, please contact us via policy@rcplondon.ac.uk.