The RCN says the 10-Year Health Plan published on 3 July could support modernising services, bringing care closer to home and helping people lead healthier lives. However, it's also urging ministers to come up with a detailed and fully funded plan to grow the nursing workforce, as well as be explicit about how the government intends to end the unacceptable issue of corridor care.
In a boost to the profession, the government says it wants nursing staff to lead the crucial shift from hospital to community, in the shape of a new neighbourhood health service. The RCN says this should be "truly empowering" and urged ministers to address the workforce crisis, especially the “freefall” in crucial community roles, if it wants to make it a reality.
The Westminster government’s 10-Year Health Plan for England outlines its mission to build a health care service “fit for the future”. The plan’s creation came in response to Lord Darzi’s review of the NHS in September 2024. It describes reinventing the health care service through three main shifts:
- hospital to community
- analogue to digital
- sickness to prevention.
The RCN has been engaged in the creation of this plan, urging nursing staff to have their voices heard through consultations, and meeting with health secretary Wes Streeting to offer insight and solutions to help shape the future of the NHS and social care. Find out more about how the RCN has tried to shape the health plan.
Professor Nicola Ranger, RCN General Secretary and Chief Executive, said: “Nursing staff are crying out for change, and we stand ready to get behind this plan. The commitment to eradicate care in corridors is the correct one – we need the detail on exactly how this will be achieved and for commitments on transparency to be honoured.
“The government and the NHS must bring about a reset with the nursing profession, too. Nursing staff are identified as the expert leaders to deliver a neighbourhood health service and that should be truly empowering. As the professionals delivering the vast majority of care, we know what keeps patients safe and well.
“Ministers are right to exploit the advances of technology in the plan, but they shouldn’t be seduced by them while tens of thousands of nursing posts lay empty. To make today’s commitments a reality, the secretary of state must produce a detailed and fully funded plan to grow our registered nurse workforce, especially in crucial community roles, in addition to the Chief Nursing Officer’s strategy and swift progress to reform and stabilise social care.
“A big conversation on improving incentives is overdue for nursing professionals doing more skilled work and taking on more responsibility than ever. This has to include progression to band 6 as a new minimum, ending the scandal of staff being trapped at the same pay band their entire career despite a wealth of professional experience – a clear nursing career structure supports safer and transformative patient care.”
Keep an eye out for the RCN Magazine explainer on what the NHS 10-Year Health Plan in England means for the nursing profession, coming soon.
