NHS needs to attract and retain good staff

I think your headline “GWH trust ranked as one of the worst in the country” (SA, August 8) was unduly harsh.

What the figures in the article actually show is that virtually all hospital trusts are failing to meet their targets; and that, in some cases, GWH is better than others. Furthermore, I consider The Telegraph system of ranking is fundamentally flawed; because it is a meaningless statistical calculation of an “ average target divergence”.

For many years, the NHS has been struggling to meet an ever-increasing demand for its services with ever-decreasing resources – predominantly professional, front-line staff (doctors, nurses and others).

Politicians of all parties have ignored the warnings from the professions. Only the extra pressure from the pandemic (which proved to be the final straw that broke the camel’s back) has, finally, forced MPs and the press to face the facts.

More cash, alone, will not solve the problem. There needs to be attractive terms and conditions of service (including pay) for professional staff which will help to retain existing often experienced staff and which will make it easier to recruit new staff.

There also needs to be an independent (a-political) radical review of the structure, management, funding and function of the NHS. It needs to look at how it can reduce demand on its services and increase supply.

Malcolm Morrison

Retired Orthopaedic Surgeon

Prospect Hill

Swindon

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