DAUK\u2019s Dr Ellen Welch has highlighted the issues facing NHS workers as she urged politicians to invest in staff to help improve morale.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Writing a column for Metro online, Dr Welch, former co-chair of the Doctors\u2019 Association UK (DAUK), said its staff was the health service\u2019s most-valuable resource.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But she said that after \u2018years of disinvestment, poor workforce planning, rock bottom staff wellbeing and plummeting retention \u2013 we have a chronic workforce crisis\u2019 as she put the NHS firmly on the election agenda.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dr Welch was responding to an announcement by Wes Streeting that Labour planned to cut NHS waiting lists by asking staff to deliver \u00a0\u201840,000 more appointments a week through evening and weekend clinics\u2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She said: \u201cIn March 2024, there were the equivalent of 1,790 fewer fully qualified full-time GPs than there were in September 2015. In secondary care \u2013 as of December 2023 \u2013 there were 110,781 unfilled posts, which in itself piles the pressure on existing staff who are already doing their level best to stay afloat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWith 7.54 million people now\u00a0on waiting lists\u00a0for treatment (3.23 million who have been waiting more than 18 weeks), and GPs delivering over 1.49 million appointments on average per day: NHS staff are already working to exhaustion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThey are already doing the work of at least two people, covering unstaffed rotas, missing their weddings and time with their children. But let\u2019s ask them to work more shall we?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt seems our politicians are oblivious to the current experience of staff on the ground. While tackling waiting lists is a worthy goal \u2013 the idealism of these political promises may appeal to some voters, but these sound bites are not grounded in reality.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dr Welch, a GP and member of DAUK\u2019s GP committee, reminded politicians that 1.5 million people work in the NHS in England.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThat is a lot of votes,\u201d she said. \u201cThere are also a lot of skilled, knowledgeable professionals who have so much to offer our health service.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAsking them to simply work harder, rather than recognising how difficult it already is to work within the NHS right now is not going to win an election, or solve this crisis. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cInvest in the staff \u2013 pay them better, improve working conditions, eradicate box-ticking soul-crushing bureaucracy which takes time away from the actual job.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Read Dr Welch\u2019s column in full<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Dr Welch will be taking part in a briefing for prospective MPs on Wednesday 19 June to discuss the crisis in general practice and things that could be done to tackle it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The briefing, Why Can\u2019t I See My GP? The Great British Paradox<\/a><\/strong>, is based on her book Why Can\u2019t I See My GP?<\/a>, a copy of which we sent to all 650 MPs in March.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Dr Welch will be joined in the briefing by colleagues from DAUK\u2019s GP committee, including its chair Dr Lizzie Toberty, and members Dr Steve Taylor and Dr Sarah Jacques.<\/p>\n\n\n\n DAUK is asking people to invite the candidates standing in their constituency to attend the briefinf. Find out the candidates in your constituency at https:\/\/whocanivotefor.co.uk\/<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n This election is vital to the future of the NHS.<\/p>\n\n\n\nDAUK election briefing<\/h2>\n\n\n\n