Responding to NHS England and NHS Improvement’s Interim NHS People Plan, Professor Mike Griffin, President of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh, said:
“We are pleased to see that tackling bullying and harassment is included as one of the top priorities of this plan. RCSEd is campaigning to highlight this issue and is working with a wide range of NHS organisations to try and remove this widespread problem.
“Addressing the causes the bullying and harassment and introducing positive measures to reduce these behaviours will make the NHS a better place to work while also improving safety for patients.
“It is also pleasing to note the desire to put workforce planning at the centre of all planning processes. It is essential to ensure that individual organisations within the NHS are clear about their roles and responsibilities for workforce planning over the short and long term. It must be clear who is responsible for longer term workforce planning on a national and local level.
“RCSEd also fully supports the plan to introduce more flexible careers and work life balance into the NHS. There are increasing numbers of surgeons who want to work and train less than full-time, and take breaks from employment for a variety of reasons. Also, the announcement of further recognition for specialty and associate specialist (SAS) roles in the NHS will considerably improve support for those doctors.
“While we welcome today’s plan, we believe that the Government’s Spending Review must ensure sufficient resource within the fully costed plan to ensure the objectives included are achievable.”
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For further information contact:
Siân Evans on 020 8674 8921 / 07752414433