Home >> News Article

New government agenda

It is no secret that these are financially challenging times for everyone, and particularly for those in charge of government funded operations such as the NHS. Andrew Lansley, the Health Secretary in the new Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition government has conflicting priorities to face. How do you make savings of over £20 billion over three years as targeted by the outgoing Labour government whilst maintaining a working National Health Service that people can have confidence in?

The key to adding value whilst making savings has to be efficiency. Securing efficiency savings will mean a tight control on pay and costs particularly by cutting bureaucracy, administration and management costs throughout the NHS. Maintaining the qualified front line staff is imperative to the success of the Service whilst minimizing impact on the public confidence. Not an easy task when the main parties cannot agree on funding of essential aspects such as adult social care. Vital talks broke down earlier this year on this point because Mr Lansley refused to consider a compulsory levy. However, the Head of Policy at the Royal College of Nursing, Howard Catton welcomed Mr Lansley's appointment, “We've worked with him for a number of years, he has a good understanding of the nursing agenda.”

As we move forward in the Coalition other aspects of efficiency generating plans are being brought forward, such as patient contracts to guarantee waiting times from the Lib Dems, and the pledge to ‘scrap politically motivated targets' from the Conservatives.

The bottom line will always have to be balanced with the intelligent staffing of hospitals with professional, efficient and caring individuals, each of whom care passionately about the standards of healthcare being delivered.

We at Nursing Personnel understand the constraints on both the NHS and the private sectors and are dedicated to providing quality nurses with the correct training into the nursing vacancies available at highly competitive rates.

Posted: May 25, 2010, 5:55 pm.

Back to News Overview

More News