Responding to the publication of the 10 year health plan, BMA council chair Dr Tom Dolphin said:

“The Health Secretary insists that this Plan has staff’s ‘fingerprints all over it’, but if the Government wants it to be as transformative as it would have everyone believe, then it needs to implement it hand-in-hand with those of us providing care to patients on the frontline every day.

“While the ambitions around the ‘three shifts’ are all admirable, the confidence and buy-in from doctors and their colleagues working on the ground will decide whether they can be a reality, and done in the way that the Government is proposing.

“For doctors, we’ve been clear that the future of health services and public health in this country relies on their clinical leadership and commitment being valued – financially and culturally. The Government has little hope of pushing through reforms while doctors feel undervalued and fearful for their futures; addressing this in the first instance means fixing pay, contracts and unemployment.

“At 140 pages, this Plan will take some digesting. But it’s unclear at this stage how far it will go – if at all - to restore this value.

“Mr Streeting promised to fix training bottlenecks and fix doctor unemployment. It’s good to see him pledging in writing to give UK medical graduates and those who have worked for some time in the NHS priority for roles, something the BMA has lobbied long and hard for. But at the same time the additional 1,000 specialty training places won’t touch the sides of what’s needed to tackle un- and underemployment once and for all.

“The Plan itself admits that the NHS will have fewer staff in 10 years than the last government promised just two years ago, but it’s difficult to see how they’ve come to this conclusion ahead of the workforce plan, expected later this year. This upcoming plan engage with the workforce it is talking about and must finally take a long-term, joined up approach to medical staffing that has been so historically lacking.

“The Plan talks a lot of autonomy and empowering frontline staff, but then says there will be name-and-shame league tables, and discusses performance-related pay and overhauling employment contracts – something that cannot be done without real negotiations with unions.

“Many questions remain about the ‘neighbourhood health service’, who will staff it and how it will be funded. As we’ve said, demoralised staff – staff that the Health Secretary recognises are already suffering moral injury – cannot be further treated as pieces on a chess board and told to work longer and harder. My colleagues in general practice, who already provide such excellent value for money and continuity of care, will want to dissect the implications of these plans and must be guaranteed a seat at the head of the table.

“As the Chancellor said this morning, when we prioritise health, it’s better for the nation’s finances. Keeping people well and treating them earlier is less costly and it keeps people in work. Some of the proposals on improving public health in terms of tackling obesity and reducing alcohol harms are a small step in the right direction but the plan is virtually silent on the important role of the public health system and public health doctors in supporting the shift to prevention.

“All of the ideas in today’s Plan need significant investment – whether that’s to improve tech, fix crumbling buildings, or hire and train additional staff across the NHS, public health and social care – even with the funding announced in the spending review last month. It cannot simply be a case of shifting resources around – this will always leave someone or something losing out.

“Some of today’s announcements sound impressive, but we need assurance that it’s not a case of rearranging the deckchairs on a sinking ship, when all hands on deck should be repairing the hull.”

Notes to editors

The BMA is a professional association and trade union representing and negotiating on behalf of all doctors in the UK. A leading voice advocating for outstanding health care and a healthy population. An association providing members with excellent individual services and support throughout their lives.