NHS 10-year plan lacks funding, say Shropshire health chiefs
Health commissioners in Shropshire say the 10-year plan for the NHS supports their vision for future healthcare in the county, but lacks funding to truly see transformation.
Workforce shortages are also a huge problem and need to be addressed, bosses at Shropshire Clinical Commissioning Group said.
NHS bosses in England say a new 10-year plan could save up to 500,000 lives by focusing on prevention and early detection.
GPs, mental health and community care will get the biggest funding increases to shift the focus away from hospitals.
Bosses at Shropshire CCG say it sits in line with the plans health commissioners have for the county.
But unions are concerned that staffing shortages could undermine the ambitions.
And Dr Simon Freeman, accountable officer for Shropshire CCG, has agreed that the recruitment and retention of NHS staff must be a main focus.
He said: "It supports the whole direction of the CCG, which is about how do we enhance out of hospital options and focus on self care and keeping people well in the community."
Talking about staffing, he said: "It's going to be a real challenge.
"Across the health service staff retention and recruitment of new staff is a major issue.
"That's not been helped by Brexit where we have seen large numbers of nurses returning to the EU."
Extra funding
Dr Julian Povey, chair of Shropshire CCG, believes extra funding should be made available.
He said: "It' not enough money to truly fund transformation.
"We must be realistic, the NHS would benefit from increased funding."
Prime Minister Theresa May asked for the plan to be drawn up when she unveiled extra funding for the health service in the summer to mark its 70th birthday.
She said the 10-year plan would "provide the best possible care for every major condition, from cradle to grave”, using the £20.5 billion a year funding boost promised by 2023/24.
She said that it was affordable in part because the UK would no longer be sending “vast annual sums” to Brussels after it leaves the European Union.
Under the plan there will be a £4.5 billion boost for primary and community care, and investment in mental health services will rise to at least £2.3 billion a year by 2023/24.
About two million more people who suffer anxiety, depression or other problems will receive help.
NHS England believes that combined the new vision could save 500,000 lives through preventing diseases, such as strokes, heart problems and cancer, and spotting them earlier to improve the chances of survival.
