This month, as the NHS turns 75, the Government announced the NHS England Long Term Workforce Plan, which sets out long term projections for future workforce supply and demand for the next 15 years. It has an ambitious agenda of reform, productivity and growth to build a sustainable workforce, backed by investment of more than £2.4 billion, the largest ever expansion of NHS workforce training in history. This plan will see the NHS reduce reliance on agency staff and international recruitment, and, in 15 years’ time, the Government expects around 10% of the workforce to be recruited internationally, compared to nearly a quarter today. These changes will also ensure up to 130,000 more staff remain in the NHS than would otherwise have been the case over the next 15 years.
In the more immediate future, I was delighted to receive the news that Queen’s Hospital will benefit from a new £1.1 million ambulance hub to provide additional urgent and emergency care capacity and allow ambulances to get to patients more quickly. The ambulance hub will increase efficiency – cutting out unnecessary delays and getting ambulances back on the road faster. My team and I have been in touch with BHRUT to offer any support in bringing this new facility into service as quickly as possible. While time is always of the essence in emergency care, this is especially true in cardiac cases and the Government is seeking to increase the number of automated external defibrillators (AEDS) in community spaces via a new £1 million fund. More information on this scheme is available on my website and I encourage all local community groups to apply.
Readers will be aware that I have long argued that Havering has not received an appropriate share of Met police resources and that additional patrols are needed in Hornchurch town centre given its night time economy. I therefore welcome the additional police patrols by emergency response team officers launched last month. The additional patrols will allow officers to respond to emergency calls in Hornchurch and the surrounding areas faster while providing a high visibility presence to deter criminal activity and reassure residents. Given the Mayor’s recent statements on retaining Uxbridge Police Station, I have written to him to once again calling for him to retain Hornchurch Police Station highlight that over 1200 residents have supported our campaign.
