The initiative is designed to generate conversation and to encourage NHS staff, patients and stakeholder organisations to input their ideas and suggestions for the upcoming NHS 10 Year Health Plan.
Announcing the project, secretary of state for health and social care Wes Streeting said that, "the health service is going through its worse crisis in history, but while the NHS is broken, it's not beaten. This government is writing a 10-year plan to turn the NHS around, but we can't do this alone, we want patients and NHS staff to have their fingerprints all over it."
This follows the MDU publishing its latest policy paper, 'An agenda for change', which focuses on three key areas that MDU members identified as wanting the government to prioritise. These are for the government to reform healthcare professional regulation, to tackle the huge cost of clinical negligence claims and to do more to protect doctors' health and wellbeing.
Responding to the announcement, MDU head of policy and strategic communications Tom Reynolds commented:
"Our National Health Service matters to all of us, so it's fitting that the government has launched this national conversation. 'Change' will need to be at the heart of a 10 Year Health Plan for England. The voice of healthcare professionals must be heard loud and clear as part of this process. The MDU will be ensuring that this happens.
"Last week, the MDU was honoured to support the NHS Parliamentary Awards in Westminster - celebrating the best of the best of the NHS workforce. But they need more than recognition.
"They deserve to be working in a system where every possible penny is spent on frontline patient care, rather than propping up an outdated clinical system meaning billions leave the system every year. It's unsustainable. Workforce retention is also vital - that's why healthcare professional regulation is needed urgently, so we tackle a culture of fear that can too often prevail when things go wrong. We need regulation to be fair, timely and proportionate.
"The MDU also wants to see the NHS improve the working environment of staff. Too many of my NHS colleagues can't get a hot meal when working nights, have no access to rest areas, and are subject to rota systems that are just not fit for purpose.
"If the government is serious about change - it can start with these right away. That's the case the MDU is making."
This page was correct at publication on 21/10/2024. Any guidance is intended as general guidance for members only. If you are a member and need specific advice relating to your own circumstances, please contact one of our advisers.