Department of Health and Social Care’s Post

Make nursing and midwifery degrees free again

I wanted to share my thoughts regarding the current discussions around investigating the NHS. While it’s clear that the NHS is facing significant challenges, I believe we should shift the narrative toward enabling the system to perform at its best. When the NHS operates well, it provides fantastic care, but when it falters, the consequences can be catastrophic. Additionally, we must not overlook the experiences of racially marginalized communities, who often face poorer outcomes within the NHS. It’s crucial that any investigation or reform prioritizes ending racism and ensuring equitable access to care for all. Let’s focus on constructive solutions that uplift the NHS and the diverse communities it serves.

Loving the transparency from this Govt already 👌

What about fixing the community social care sector first which will take pressure off a very well funded NHS? Why do successive ministers go for the perceived popular initiative with all the fanfare? Its like saying we will fix cancers predicated by smoking instead of fixing the underlying social drivers for folk starting to smoke in the first place. Lets get the UK population eating better. 80% of young adults food intake is ultra-processed. Lets get people away from alcohol consumption which is indirectly at the heart of most deaths in the UK population. Lets get mental health in our children on the agenda so they dont have to wait 2 years to get the support they deserve All the above AND MORE will take pressure off the NHS and probably fix 20% of ALL the current problems... (Gets off soapbox)

I wonder how much it will cost and how long an "investigation in to the NHS" is going to take. Surely the Secretary of State has enough Executive Leads, CIOs, CTOs at his finger tips within ICBs and Trusts to gain a clear understanding rather than wasting time with yet another lengthy investigation, to generate yet another lengthy paper (laura Wade Geary did one 4 ish years ago) with recommendations which the current government won't get time to see through and then promise those actions in the next election. Although positive around the Junior Doctors, it's action that is required for the NHS, not another policy piece.

Of course things have to start somewhere , but I have an awful feeling it is going to be a major change again for the NHS. It is not broken it just needs joining up. Some hospitals work amazingly efficiently and effectively and that is because the leaders and teams work inclusively and in an integrated way. Others are a shambles because good practice across the NHS is not shared. Unless I am missing something the elephant in the room is there was no mention of social care! Admittedly it is only week one but unless they start together there will be no integration and no significant change. If the DHS and Mr Streeting reads LinkedIn then hopefully they will see there are some taleteted people out there who could really shake up the root cause of our problems and improve life for many people if they mean to make a difference . Don’t stick to the same ‘old people ‘ advising - listen to the practitioners and places where ‘platinum’ practice happens every day and share it.

This is great! 😀 I love this update detailing some of the work being done at DHSC, but also providing an informative glimpse into the working life of the Secretary of State. 😀 Could this be made a regular feature going forward? 🙏

A great start for Department of Health but no start for the Department of Social Care. No acknowledgement that effective healthcare for older people can free up resources

the nhs isn't broken. It keeps working hard despite all the political rubbish over the last 15 years and struggles due to lack of social care support, adequately funded community, general practice and mental health services. So please don't keep saying its broken as it insults the nhs staff who work really hard , it continues to do it's best within the resources it has