A recent report by the Health and Social Care Select Committee has described thousands of unfilled roles in the NHS and social care in England including many for occupational therapists and other allied health professions (AHPs).
The committee has warned that a failure to decisively plug the staffing gap could threaten plans to address the Covid treatment backlog.
The Royal College of Occupational Therapists has welcomed the findings which were drawn up by the cross-party committee but described it as further evidence of what it said was a full-blown workforce crisis across social care and the NHS in England. The RCOT called for tackling the workforce crisis to be made a priority and to assist with this, offered five key areas for action.
In order to solve the workforce crisis, the call was for politicians and health leaders to:
- Remember all professions. The contribution made by allied health professionals (AHPs) – including occupational therapists – and others is needed for health and social care to get back on its feet. Concentrating on headline figures for GPs and nurses is understandable, but would mean missing the chance to take a more informed approach.
- Future-proof recruitment and patient care. That means identifying where the workforce can make the most impact to health and social care needs in the future, such as in community-based health, and recruiting accordingly. Prescribing responsibilities should be extended to occupational therapists and other AHPs where they can help reduce pressures on services and improve patient care.
- Tackle the reasons why staff are leaving. Challenge discrimination and bullying head on, provide flexible working patterns, and develop a more supportive culture
- Open up pathways such as apprenticeships. People from all backgrounds must have the opportunity to train to become health and care professionals, and make sure that the university pathway is affordable, by reducing the financial burden on students.
- Fix social care. The NHS cannot thrive while social care is neglected in comparison. Problems in one affect the other, but issues in social care are more deep-rooted and need fundamental change. This includes a fair deal for social care staff involving improved pay, terms and conditions, training and career progression.
See the RCOT 'asks' directed to the new Prime Minister to make health and social care a key priority of their next government by clicking here
More information on the report can be found on the UK Parliament website.