It’s finally election week, after a campaign which has had the NHS front and centre. Ahead of Thursday’s vote, we’ve been taking a look at what health think tanks, primary care and hospital sector bodies are calling for from all of the political parties in the race when it comes to NHS premises, health infrastructure and investment in buildings for healthcare.
The Royal College of General Practitioners
The college’s #BackGP campaign calls for more support for GP practices in its vision of the future. “Practices working together will offer a wider range of services to patients in modernised, fit-for-purpose surgeries. Surgeries will become hubs where ‘social prescribing’ enables patients to access community activities and advice services to support their wellbeing.”
The BMA:
The association’s Manifesto for Health calls for its wellbeing charter to be implemented in full. The charter highlights actions to ‘build a culture which supports mental health and wellbeing’, including to: “Involve staff in the (re-)design of workplaces, ensuring these are assessed regularly to reduce the risk of harm to staff; provide access to indoor or (ideally green) outdoor spaces where staff can exercise or take a break. Provide spaces to rest and socialise, ensuring access to break rooms where staff and students can socialise, relax, sleep and prepare food.
NHS Providers:
In its manifesto, the sector body representing NHS hospital, community, ambulance and mental health trusts and foundation trusts across the country says: “The future government must ensure the NHS has people with the right skills and in the right places equipped with the modern facilities and technologies that they need to deliver high-quality, safe care. <We need> an urgent upgrade for the NHS estate, equipment and technological capability, including a comprehensive capital investment programme bringing levels up to those in comparable countries and an achievable digital strategy that supports the NHS to improve how it delivers care.”
NHS Confederation:
The body representing health leaders across healthcare providers, clinical commissioners and local systems has published a report outlining what its members think the incoming government should do to help the NHS. Among their three critical priorities is capital investment, seen as key by 85% of their members. 81% said the number one priority for investment should be in IT infrastructure or buildings.
You can also read analysis of the health and social care commitments from different parties from The King’s Fund, The Nuffield Trust and The Health Foundation.