10.07.19
NHS Providers: National Retention Programme to help workforce shortages
NHS Providers deputy chief executive, Saffron Cordery, has praised the rollout of the National Retention Programme by NHS England and NHS Improvement as a viable solution to workforce shortages.
The National Retention Programme (NRP) was rolled out to cover staff working in general practice, as well as hospitals, having already helped keep more than 1,100 nurses, midwives and other clinicians in the NHS.
As part of the programme, there would be a ‘transfer window’ to allow staff to move within the NHS between areas, while developing new skills and incentives are used to help keep new joiners such as discount gym memberships.
Ms Cordery said: “A viable solution to the 100,000+ vacancies across the NHS involves both recruitment and ensuring that hard-working and skilled staff want to stay within the NHS.
READ MORE: NHS rolls out National Retention Programme to tackle shortages
“Trusts have welcomed the support of the National Retention Programme so far. It is welcome that more than 1,000 staff members have since chosen to stay within the NHS. We are pleased that the programme will support a coordinated approach to the delivery of the long term plan and that it will be rolled out further to include GPs.
“As set out in the interim NHS people plan, we need to continue to see more action to ensure all staff across health and care feel valued, supported to have a good work/life balance and access to the training and development opportunities they need.
“But this needs to be supported by urgent action in other areas, including the pensions issue, which is forcing senior clinicians to reduce their working hours and affecting patient care.
"We also need to see more investment in NHS education and training budgets as part of the forthcoming spending review. Without this, these approaches will only have a limited impact.”