04.05.18
BMA asks for honest chat about the ‘type of NHS doctors want to work in’
The BMA has launched a project aimed at rescuing the NHS from its “perilous state” by developing a vision for what an improved health and care system could look like.
Led by the union’s council chair, Chaand Nagpaul, the ambitious project – called ‘Caring, supportive, collaborative: a future vision for the NHS’ – was formally launched with a survey sent to BMA member that will help shape its scope and content.
“The NHS is in a perilous state. The facts speak for themselves – waiting times, bed occupancy rates, A&E attendances have all risen. Underfunding has left the NHS with a £10bn shortfall annually compared to other EU countries,” said Nagpaul after the launch.
Writing in the BMA website, the council chair argued that, against this backdrop, there has “never been a more important time” for doctors in each UK nation to come together to develop a “positive vision” for the health and care system.
“The challenge is how we find the solutions to the problems facing the NHS. As the only organisation to represent all doctors working across all sectors of the UK the BMA is uniquely placed to help meet this challenge,” he wrote.
The project will specifically focus on increasing collaboration and integration in the NHS – a key tenet of the ongoing sustainability and transformation partnerships (STPs), although these have been mired in controversy since their inception – and on creating a more supportive culture, as well as boosting the NHS workforce.
BMA members will be able to complete the survey through a personalised link sent via email. The survey is intended to inspire an “open and honest conversation about the type of NHS doctors want to work in.”