FSRH statement: FSRH welcomes NHS People Plan 2020-21

Today NHS England and NHS Improvement published the NHS People Plan 2020-21, setting out actions for 2020/21 as the workforce responds to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We are the NHS: People Plan for 2020/21 action for us all” aims to foster: a compassionate and inclusive culture; new ways of working to deliver patient care; as well as growing and training the workforce. It includes actions for 2020/21, and specific commitments around workforce health and wellbeing; tackling discrimination; and recruitment and retention.

Alongside the People Plan 2020/21, NHSE and NHSI are also publishing “Our NHS People Promise”, outlining the changes needed to make the NHS a better place to work.

Dr Jane Dickson, Vice President of the Faculty of Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare (FSRH), said:

“The Faculty of Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare welcomes the People Plan for 2020/21, and its focus on the health and wellbeing of the workforce.

“Managing the next stages of the pandemic will present significant challenges to the NHS and wider health and care system. Taking care of the wellbeing of those who are the pillar of the NHS will prove crucial. Sexual and reproductive healthcare clinicians have been working hard to respond to the COVID-19 crisis, and it is paramount that they receive the necessary support to return to their services after redeployment.

“We support the call for local systems to develop their own People Plans together with Public Health partners, aligning these plans with service and financial plans, and updating them regularly as demand for services change.

“We also welcome a focus on leadership values and behaviours. Leadership skills and good knowledge on governance and service design are important tools for doctors to lead multi-disciplinary teams as the NHS attempts to capture and maintain positive lessons on joined-up care delivery during the pandemic.

“However, the ambitions can only go so far with the continuous uncertainty surrounding funding for education and training threatening the sustainability of the workforce. We hope to see a fully-funded next phase of the People Plan to 2021/22, with a clear emphasis on increasing workforce supply, particularly for shortage specialties such as Community Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare (CSRH).”

Ends

Notes to editors:

• “We are the NHS: People Plan for 2020/21 action for us all” is the second People Plan document following the publication of the Interim People Plan in 2019. It can be found here.
• FSRH’s statement in response to the Interim People Plan can be found here.
• The Faculty of Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare (FSRH) is the largest UK professional membership organisation working at the heart of sexual and reproductive health (SRH), supporting healthcare professionals to deliver high quality care. It works with its 15,000 members, to shape sexual reproductive health for all. It produces evidence-based clinical guidance, standards, training, qualifications and research into SRH. It also delivers conferences and publishes the journal BMJ Sexual & Reproductive Health in partnership with the BMJ.

For further information please contact:
Camila Azevedo
FSRH External Affairs Manager
Email: cazevedo@fsrh.org
Telephone: 02037945309