Year published: 2018
Summary of CSP evidence
- STPs have the potential to deliver game changing improvements through expansion of the General Practice team to include physiotherapy and investment in community based rehabilitation services. This needs to be reflected in delivery plans.
- To engage the public there needs to be a change in the terms of the discussion about transformation as this is currently dominated by fears of services being cut.
- STPs are hamstrung by the continued underfunding of the NHS and social care. The Government needs to commit to a new funding settlement and take responsibility for resolving the debt crisis created by PFI.
- The NHS England Mandate needs to be revised to remove the requirement for Trusts to eliminate their deficits in a short time period. This requirement is risky and unrealistic, and ultimately undermines the potential for STPs to deliver real change.
- All healthcare professions need to be involved in the leadership of STPs – currently this is patchy for physiotherapy and other allied health professions. This needs to be corrected.
- NHS England and the Social Partnership Forum should agree principles as guidance for STPs in strengthening the workforce voice and good employment practice.
- STPs are an opportunity to reform workforce planning that is mapped against future population and service needs across whole health and care economies.
- To deliver plans, STPs need to help address the shortfall in supply of physiotherapy graduates and develop the existing workforce.
- The CSP welcomes the policy intention from NHS England for STPs to move towards effectively removing the provider – purchaser split. The Government needs to support this with necessary legislative changes.