7 March 2022
Responding to the news that members of the House of Lords have voted to require regular publication of independent assessments of current and future health and care workforce projections, Dr Katherine Henderson, President of the Royal College of Emergency Medicine, said:
“This decision is most welcome. While we still do not have a fully funded long-term workforce plan, the publication of current and future health and care workforce projections will reveal the level of recruitment required across all grades, specialties, and departments.
“The Royal College has long been calling for a workforce plan, and this bill is a step closer to that end. The National Health Service delivers high quality care, but for too long this has been delivered unsustainably with widespread workforce shortages – relying on the goodwill, adrenaline, and tireless efforts of burnt-out staff. We know that across the UK in Emergency Medicine there is a shortfall of 2,000-2,500 WTE Consultants, and extreme shortages of crucial Emergency Medicine nurses, as well as junior and supporting Emergency Medicine staff.
“We hope members in the House of Commons will follow their peers in the House of Lords and pass this amendment, and we call on the government to take heed of this bill and commit to publishing a fully funded workforce plan for the NHS. We would welcome any opportunity to meet with the Secretary of State to discuss the staffing needs of Emergency Medicine in England.”
