The ambitions of the NHS Long Term Workforce Plan have been welcomed by those working across neuro-rehab – although concerns have been raised at the lack of measures to address the ‘postcode lottery’ in provision.
The 15-year plan unveils means to train and retain those working in the NHS, with ambitions to recruit 300,000 more NHS staff in England and double the number of medical training places by 2031, while also pledging more apprenticeships.
Improved conditions for staff are also a key target to help improve retention rates.
Specialist areas including speech and language therapy are also earmarked for increased resource, enabling traditionally under-resourced NHS provision to be increased.
However, the regional disparity in provision which has proved such a burden to patients for so long is not addressed in the plan – something identified as being crucial to meaningful change to care.
Georgina Carr, chief executive of the Neurological Alliance, said: “It doesn’t address the distribution problem. For example, a third of neurologists in the NHS in England are in the South East – but then we have no provision at all in other areas such as Lincolnshire or West Cumbria.
“There are significant gaps clearly, and this geographical variability is not dealt with.”
Grace Ogden, campaigns engagement lead at Parkinson’s UK, said: “We would still like to see more information on how speciality training in neurology and care of the elderly services will happen in areas that lack specialists, especially as the UK is bottom of the European league table in the number of neurologists.
“Urgent action is needed to address some areas of the NHS workforce which are really struggling.
“We want to see clear plans from Integrated Care Boards on how they will deliver the workforce that this ambitious plan promises, when they are currently being asked to make cuts to local budgets.”
However, the identification of specialisms within the plan was welcomed, with the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists (RCSLT) hailing its role in addressing the “eye-watering waiting times”.
Steve Jamieson, chief executive of RCSLT, said: “With vacancy rates in speech and language therapy reaching 25 per cent, we welcome the NHS Workforce Plan’s focus on increasing the number of speech and language therapists in both children’s and adult services, where – for decades – the education and training pipeline has not kept pace with demand.
“For far too long, people with communication, eating, drinking and swallowing difficulties have not had access to the timely expert support they require.
“Speech and language therapy cuts across over 30 clinical pathways and the plan to support and increase advanced practitioner roles will enable more therapists to act as senior decision makers in appropriate settings. Not only will this enhance patient experience. it will also improve career progression and retention within the profession.
“The expansion of speech and language therapy apprenticeships, as well as traditional courses, are also welcome in growing the workforce and addressing eye-watering waiting times.
“We look forward to collaborating with NHS England on the detail of this plan to ensure ambitions become reality.”
Grace Ogden at Parkinson’s UK similarly welcomed the potential benefits – but said the ambitions must be followed through into practical reality.
“It’s reassuring to see career pathways for nurses and allied health professionals who are so crucial to Parkinson’s care in the plan. We hope that the NHS can realise staff ambitions to work as part of multidisciplinary teams,” she said.
“The reaffirmed commitment to cut waiting times as part of the elective care plan will be a relief to our community who are facing long waits to see their consultant or nurse.
“The focus on acknowledging we have an increasingly ageing population who live with multiple conditions is positive.
“The NHS must use the promised investment in technology to improve its data on prevalence of long-term conditions and the location and need for more specialist healthcare professionals.
“We will be monitoring the implementation of this plan to ensure it makes a difference to people with Parkinson’s. Our community is struggling with access to care now and we want them to get the support they need today, not in 15 years’ time.”
