Re: David Oliver: Falling immigration could destroy the NHS
David Oliver dismisses the major problem with staffing the NHS. Retention. Clearly I know more about general practice than hospitals but there would be many quick and cheap changes that might encourge people to work for longer. The insistance that surgeries open at weekends and evenings drives away doctors with families. The meaningless box ticking disillusions people. Well me anyway. Every year we are required to do more for less. I could go on and on.
Then there is the madness of the NHS pension, where if you do not take it you lose it. It is not carried over, just gone.
Back in secondary care, staff are expected to work a 12hour + shift. For some it is useful but for many it becomes an exhausting drain. Other industries do not make staff work 12 hours shifts. I bet productivity falls in the final third.
Retention is the answer, look after your staff, don't steal them from third world countries.
Rapid Response:
Re: David Oliver: Falling immigration could destroy the NHS
David Oliver dismisses the major problem with staffing the NHS. Retention. Clearly I know more about general practice than hospitals but there would be many quick and cheap changes that might encourge people to work for longer. The insistance that surgeries open at weekends and evenings drives away doctors with families. The meaningless box ticking disillusions people. Well me anyway. Every year we are required to do more for less. I could go on and on.
Then there is the madness of the NHS pension, where if you do not take it you lose it. It is not carried over, just gone.
Back in secondary care, staff are expected to work a 12hour + shift. For some it is useful but for many it becomes an exhausting drain. Other industries do not make staff work 12 hours shifts. I bet productivity falls in the final third.
Retention is the answer, look after your staff, don't steal them from third world countries.
Competing interests: No competing interests