News

16.03.17

Reassurance over STPs needed or NHS risks entering era of permafrost

The recent intervention by Simon Stevens to ensure that mass bed closures will not happen in STP areas unless alternative arrangements are put in place first is a very welcome and much-needed move, according to the president of the Royal College of Physicians (RCP), because without that level of reassurance the NHS will enter an “era of permafrost”.

Speaking at the RCP’s annual conference in Manchester, Professor Jane Dacre said that she believes one of the reasons for concern about the NHS’s future is linked to the “uncertainty facing us due to STPs”.

“There are 44 proposals across the country with the laudable aim of addressing health and wellbeing, care and quality, and finance and efficiency,” she explained.

“But from those we have seen so far, many are planning to cut beds – up to 30% of beds in their area. In the past two decades the numbers of NHS beds has already been reduced by 25%, and the only way we have been able to cope with increasing numbers of patients is by reducing the length of stay.

“We cannot do that forever. We cannot reduce the number of beds by 30% unless they are provided elsewhere. We have seen that even a mild winter, with no major epidemics, has not stemmed the constant flow of patients.

“I’m extremely pleased Simon Stevens intervened two weeks ago to make it clear that mass bed closures will not be permitted unless alternative arrangements for patients are put in place first. We need that reassurance, otherwise we will enter the era of NHS permafrost, where winter doesn’t go away.”

The NHS England boss recently stated that he didn’t foresee any new funding for the NHS in near future, and that was the case in last week’s Spring Budget. However, the chancellor did release some capital funding for advanced STPs and A&E triage pilots.

Reflecting on this, Dacre said: “It is clear from the lack of government action during the winter NHS pressures that no one is now going to help. No one is coming to the rescue, and no one is going to provide more funding.

“Last week, the chancellor chose not to give the NHS a penny more in the budget. I’m grateful for the increase in social care provision, which I hope will also go towards supporting people in the hospital – but it has been referred to as a sticking plaster. As with our patients, we are leaning towards self-management. The more I think about it, the more I fear that we are going to have to come up with the answers ourselves.”

Despite painting a bleak picture of the current state of the NHS, the RCP president acknowledged: “Most of the truly innovative transformations in care over the past decade have been developed by doctors. We need to harness the experience and intellect of physicians and patients working together, backed by the independence of the RCP as a royal college.

“As physicians, our voice can be powerful, but we all need to lift our heads above the parapet. I know we are struggling to maintain morale, but that will improve if we take more control of our situation.”

She also issued this rallying cry to the profession: “be those decision-makers, push your trusts into finding time for consultants and trainees to take part in decision-making, STPs, and ask the uncomfortable questions for your patients. Sort out your ward or clinic if it isn’t working well – get stuck in, you can do it. Don’t look back in five years’ time and regret that you hadn’t been more involved”.

(Image: c. RCP)

Have you got a story to tell? Would you like to become an NHE columnist? If so, click here.

Comments

There are no comments. Why not be the first?

Add your comment

national health executive tv

more videos >

latest news

View all News

comment

NHS England dementia director prescribes rugby for mental health and dementia patients

23/09/2019NHS England dementia director prescribes rugby for mental health and dementia patients

Reason to celebrate as NHS says watching rugby can be good for your mental ... more >
Peter Kyle MP: It’s time to say thank you this Public Service Day

21/06/2019Peter Kyle MP: It’s time to say thank you this Public Service Day

Taking time to say thank you is one of the hidden pillars of a society. Bei... more >

editor's comment

26/06/2020Adapting and Innovating

Matt Roberts, National Health Executive Editorial Lead. NHE May/June 2020 Edition We’ve been through so much as a health sector and a society in recent months with coronavirus and nothing can take away from the loss and difficulties that we’ve faced but it vital we also don’t disregard the amazing efforts we’ve witnessed. Staff have gone above and beyond, whole hospitals and trusts have flexed virtually at will to meet demand and pressures and we’ve... read more >

last word

Haseeb Ahmad: ‘We all have a role to play in getting innovations quicker’

Haseeb Ahmad: ‘We all have a role to play in getting innovations quicker’

Haseeb Ahmad, president of the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry (ABPI), sits down with National Health Executive as part of our Last Word Q&A series. Would you talk us throu more > more last word articles >

interviews

Matt Hancock says GP recruitment is on the rise to support ‘bedrock of the NHS’

24/10/2019Matt Hancock says GP recruitment is on the rise to support ‘bedrock of the NHS’

Today, speaking at the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) annual... more >

the scalpel's daily blog

Covid-19 can signal a new deal with the public on health

28/08/2020Covid-19 can signal a new deal with the public on health

Danny Mortimer, Chief Executive, NHS Employers & Deputy Chief Executive, NHS Confederation The common enemy of coronavirus united the public side by side wi... more >
read more blog posts from 'the scalpel' >

healthcare events

events calendar

back

September 2020

forward
mon tue wed thu fri sat sun
31 1 2 3 4 5 6
7 8 9 10 11 12 13
14 15 16 17 18 19 20
21 22 23 24 25 26 27
28 29 30 1 2 3 4
5 6 7 8 9 10 11

featured articles

View all News