The plan, which is due to be published later today (30 June 2023), will focus on 3 key areas – training, retention and reform.

Announced by NHS England (NHSE), it is supported and funded by the government who has pledged £2.4 billion over the next 5 years to open additional education and training places.

This initial investment will be used by NHSE to work towards:

• doubling medical school training places to 15,000 by 2031, with more places in areas with the greatest shortages
• increasing the number of GP training places by 50% to 6,000 by 2031
• nearly doubling the number of adult nurse training places by 2031, with 24,000 more nurse and midwife training places per year by 2031.

The plan will be reviewed at least every 2 years to help meet future requirements, such as advances in technology and treatments.

Commenting on the Long-Term Workforce Plan, Professor Mike Osborn, President, Royal College of Pathologists, said:

“This is a really significant investment in the health workforce, and so in patient care. The chronic shortage of pathologists means that diagnostic and treatment capacity has failed to keep pace with increasing demand and patient needs. Pathologists are vital to the prevention, diagnosis, treatment and monitoring of disease and patients need a properly resourced, supported and sustainable pathology workforce. This plan sets out a route to achieve this.

Some pathology specialties face acute workforce pressures with high vacancy rates, compounded by training places not being filled so it is encouraging to see a focus on improving staff retention. This is not just about pay and pensions, but about modernising employment practices and focusing on staff wellbeing.

"We welcome the 3-pronged approach of train, retain and reform. All of these elements are vital, as is a long-term commitment to the plan if the real promise of this announcement is to be fulfilled.

The increase in medical school places is much needed. This must be matched by the provision of supervision, teaching and training for medical students and the resources to allow the qualified staff to provide and support that training. Although it is hard to see how this will be achieved with the current shortages and pressures on the workforce.

We look forward to seeing further detail that shows how this exciting and historic workforce plan will be delivered successfully.”

On apprenticeships/advanced roles in the plan

“The College has been at the forefront of advancing clinical practitioner roles, seeing biomedical scientists working alongside medically qualified pathologists as part of an integrated team.

We support further development of apprenticeships. These roles must be developed in conjunction with expansion of more traditional roles, including the medically trained workforce. Only by having well qualified, well-resourced and a diverse range of medical, clinical and other health professional roles working together, can we provide the best service for our patients.”

On investment in new technology

“Pathologists using artificial intelligence and digital technology have already introduced efficiencies into their services by freeing up highly trained pathologists from more routine and repetitive work, or by automating other tasks such as ordering additional tests on patient samples before review. 

We are delighted by the commitment to continued investment in digital pathology systems and IT so we can realise the huge potential of AI-assisted diagnostics, and similar technologies.”

Note

The College will respond further once it has taken time to analyse the detail in the plan. To read more see NHS England » NHS Long Term Workforce Plan

Letter from NHS England 

NHS England’s Chief Workforce Officer Navina Evans and Professor Sir Steve Powis, National Medical Director, sent a letter to Medical Royal Colleges and Faculties thanking them for their feedback to the plan.