In response to the NHS Long Term Workforce Plan published today (30 June 2023), Dr Rhidian Hughes, Chief Executive of the Voluntary Organisations Disability Group (VODG) says:
‘This report misses a huge opportunity to integrate the health and care workforce and bring pay parity to the system.
‘The social care workforce plays a critical role in the life chances and experiences of people of all ages and deserves better than to be continually overlooked, undervalued and underpaid.
‘This plan should have brought forward plans to meaningfully integrate workforce planning and development for social care. Instead it passes the buck and exacerbates existing tensions for scarce workers at a time when new thinking and new better ways of working have never been more necessary for those accessing health and care. In lieu of an integrated plan, we join others in calling for a long overdue, forward-looking plan for the social care workforce.’