Today marks a significant milestone for the NHS as around 100 frontline staff, joined by senior NHS England directors, convene in Liverpool to discuss the future of the health service.
This event is the first in a series aimed at reshaping the NHS through direct input from its diverse workforce. The discussions will be led by independent facilitators and will feature prominent NHS figures, including:
- Duncan Burton, Chief Nursing Officer
- Kate Brintworth, Chief Midwifery Officer
- Dr Clare Fuller, Primary Care Medical Director
- Dr Paula Cowan, North West Medical Director for Primary Care
To ensure a comprehensive perspective, staff from various roles and care settings have been nominated to attend. This includes GPs, nurses, optometrists, consultants, porters, and pharmacists, among others. The aim is to minimise the impact on local services while gathering valuable insights from a broad spectrum of the NHS workforce.
This gathering is part of the largest listening event in NHS history. It follows seven nationwide public debates and a series of online staff events held last year, all focused on developing a 10 Year Health Plan to ensure the NHS is fit for future generations.
Chief Nursing Officer for England, Duncan Burton, said:
“Our staff know what is needed to transform the NHS and we want their views and ideas to shape the creation of the 10 year health plan.
“Every day I see how committed, ambitious, and innovative staff across the NHS and care sector are finding ways to do things differently to improve care for patients.
“The event in Liverpool is a fantastic opportunity to hear from staff about some of the solutions to the challenges we face and their ideas for change that will benefit patients and staff.
“Their views will be added to the tens of thousands of views that staff, patients, and the public have contributed so far.”
Following today's event in Liverpool, six more listening events are scheduled across the UK. These will take place in Sheffield, Sutton Coldfield, London, Reading, Peterborough, and Taunton throughout February and March.
The insights gathered from these events will play a crucial role in shaping the government's 10 Year Health Plan, ensuring it reflects the needs and aspirations of those who work within the NHS. This collaborative approach aims to build a resilient and future-proof health service for generations to come.
Image credit: iStock
