There are things we (i.e. NHS staff) and you can do – to help the NHS give you better care in 2025.
Hence this is one of two blogs published on MyHSN on 1st January 2025. The other is ‘NHS in 2025: 10 New Year’s Resolutions for the Public’.
1. Don’t keep asking for more stuff
Money, beds or staff. In the UK, we put 10-11% of GDP (your hard earnt taxes) into healthcare. This is similar to other developed countries. And, honestly, most of the NHS is badly underperforming at present.
So. Don’t throw good money after bad. Improve productivity using innovation and non-traditional ways of working.
2. Think about what you can do to help the NHS improve
Ask yourself daily ‘how can I improve my area of responsibility?’ (without asking for more stuff).
If everyone improved their productivity by 10%, this would have a huge effect on waiting lists.
3. Run the NHS 7 days a week
It’s ridiculous asking for more stuff when we don’t use what we have properly. GP practices, operating theatres and scanners are poorly used (often not at all) from Friday lunchtime to Monday. Staff car parks are half empty on a Friday.
This leads to Monday am NHS chaos – the 8am dogfight for a GP appointment, hospital operations cancelled etc – that we all see every week.
Note. Tescos, Amazon, Google and Premier Inn work 7 days a week.
4. Prioritise IT
Persuade your bosses to put more funding into IT – e.g. over staff, beds and other things. It will make the system run better, for you and the patients.
5. Merge health and social care properly
Persuade PM Keir Starmer, Health Secretary Wes Streeting and the government, to merge health and social care properly. This will be difficult but possible and involve:
- Carefully planned Acts of Parliament to merge health and social care – with the same admin structures and funding streams
- Redrawing the borders of ICBs (Integrated Care Boards = the 42 roughly county-sized admin structures of the NHS in England) into councils (ideally they should be one entity). ICBs are of very varying size, many too big. They need to be of similar size, and ideally smaller, like ..
- A previous local level of NHS admin (called CCGs; previously called PCTs and Districts’ before that). This was about ‘right size’ to have natural geographical/social links with councils.
Note. Such changes in size/type of admin structure will have little effect unless ministries and objectives (and budgets) are truly merged.
6. Look at (and trial) alternative ways of running health care – including a social insurance system
The 1948 model (we still use) is outdated and not copied by other developed countries [“Why do you think that is? Mm .. ” MyHSN Ed]. Social insurance systems are used by high performing countries like the Netherlands, Switzerland and Scandanavia.
So, let’s trial it in say 3 ICBs; or better, in one of the 7 NHS regions (most have 7ish ICBs).
7. Take up a management role
You may spend alot of your day moaning about:
- ‘Them’ (you)
- ‘The Trust’ (you)
- ‘The NHS’ (you)
- ‘The system’ (you)
- ‘Managers’ (could be you).
All these things are, yes, YOU. So stop moaning about them. And volunteer to lead an area of your part of the NHS and make it run better. Small things make a difference.
8. Be a good health role model for the patients
How is your physical and mental health? Make proactive efforts to improve both aspects of your health in 2025. Lose some weight if you are overweight.
9. Be positive in all that you do
- STOP moaning. You will enjoy your work more, and so get better at it
- Don’t send negative emails. If you are annoyed with someone, go and talk to them
- Take advice. If you not sure (or sure!) ask for advice from knowledgeable colleagues. A good phrase is ‘what do you think of this? .. please be critical. Thanks’
10. Prepare for next pandemic
It’s coming. And ..
- Don’t assume it will be viral – it could be bacterial
- Don’t assume it will be a respiratory bug like COVID-19 – if it is viral
- Don’t assume it will have relatively low mortality – e.g. 1% of COVID-19.
Every GP, hospital or service needs a written plan that is practiced yearly.
Oh yes. We would like to hear your ideas and resolutions. Please tell us via Instagram.
