The Royal College of Anaesthetists has welcomed the new long-term plan for the NHS.
In a statement, Professor Ravi Mahajan, President of the Royal College of Anaesthetists (RCoA) said the plan sets an ambitious course for the NHS over the next decade. However, he added that its success will be dependent on a number of other factors including the forthcoming strategy for the NHS workforce, the long-awaited plans for social care reform and the allocations in the Spending Review.
“Ultimately the plan for the future of the NHS is dependent on proper integration of care and a sustained investment in those delivering care,” Prof Mahajan said.
He described the establishment of a national workforce group as “a welcome step” in addressing “the challenges facing NHS staff, including welfare and morale. We are pleased that royal colleges will be included in this group and look forward to working with partners by offering the insight and experiences of our membership.”
“We recognise the need for a clinical workforce that marries a high-degree of specialist skills with the generic skills needed to care for an ageing population. As a college we are in the process of evolving our curriculum to ensure that it provides high-quality training that enables the provision of the best standards of care,” he added.