The UK healthcare industry has seen substantial change over the past 20 years, with game-changing technologies and treatment advancements from cell and gene therapy to AI-driven diagnosis.
This progress will no doubt make a significant difference to the way healthcare is delivered in the future. However, as reinforced by Lord Darzi’s recent report into the NHS, there are fundamental underlying issues, several of which were accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic, which continue to have an ongoing impact on an overwhelmed system. Such obstacles can be attributed to a sparsity of funding, a patient voice that is not loud enough and staff disengagement.
While the findings of Lord Darzi’s report are unsurprising and many of us, as patients or carers, have experienced the challenges first-hand, there is no doubt that the work healthcare professionals (HCPs) and NHS staff do, day in and day out, is incredible – their hard work and dedication to their patients is unwavering. However, as noted by the new Secretary of State for Health, the UK healthcare system is broken and change is critical. We need to re-evaluate how the NHS operates and better understand how we can engage and support staff.
Yet, the hardships faced by the NHS and wider health sector, in terms of the need to energise and engage employees, aren’t necessarily unique and similar challenges can be identified within all sectors, including our own. The difference lies in the approach.
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GBR-NP-1024-80004
Date of preparation: October 2024
