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An alarming internal document from NHS England, obtained by the Guardian, warns of a critical workforce shortage with an estimated deficit of 571,000 full-time staff by 2036 if current trends continue. The NHS presently operates with 154,000 fewer staff than needed, and without radical action, this number is expected to skyrocket.

The 107-page blueprint highlights the urgent need for more homegrown doctors, nurses, GPs, and dentists to prevent further strain on healthcare services. Rural areas, already struggling with staffing, will be hit the hardest, leaving older patients in particular without adequate care. 

The plan calls for a significant increase in the number of doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals trained in the UK, emphasizing a shift away from the government’s reliance on hiring overseas health professionals and spending billions on temporary staff.

However, the Treasury, led by Chancellor Jeremy Hunt, is reportedly resistant to the blueprint’s proposed doubling of doctor training and 77% increase in annual nursing training due to the high costs involved. Hunt’s stance has led to a standoff with Health Secretary Steve Barclay, who supports the plan and considers it a realistic assessment of the required measures to tackle the NHS’s severe staff shortages, which are affecting care quality and safety for patients.

The plan raises concerns about the use of temporary staff and the surge in overseas workers now accounting for one in six NHS employees. Opposition parties accuse the Conservative government of failing to address the staffing crisis, with calls for immediate action to ensure the NHS can continue to provide adequate care.

The NHS workforce plan is due for publication once disputes over its content have been resolved. In the meantime, a government spokesperson emphasized ongoing efforts to recruit more staff into the NHS and the imminent publication of a long-term workforce plan.

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Kevin McDonnell

Author Kevin McDonnell

Helping ambitious HealthTech, MedTech, Health and Technology leaders shape the future of healthcare.

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