Professional membership bodies The Royal College of Pathologists (RCPath) and the Institute of Biomedical Science (IBMS) have announced they are working on responses to the NHS 10 Year Plan consultation, as well as urging their members to contribute on an individual basis.
The government’s recently launched consultation calls for members of the public, as well as NHS staff and experts to share their experiences, views and ideas for fixing the NHS via the online platform, change.nhs.uk, which will be live until the start of next year, as well as via the NHS App.
The IBMS said in a statement: “The IBMS is preparing a detailed response to ensure the voice of biomedical science is integral to the future of healthcare. This is a key moment for our profession to influence strategic decisions that will impact the NHS workforce, technology, and patient outcomes over the next decade. We urge our members to join us in playing a pivotal role in shaping the future of healthcare in the UK.”
IBMS Chief Executive David Wells commented: “Through our recent reports and collaborations, we’ve established a strong foundation to respond effectively to this consultation. Our members’ commitment to excellence, combined with the IBMS’s thought leadership, allows us to champion the profession in driving impactful change.”
On its website RCPath said it will be submitting an organisational response focussing on - prevention, community, digitalisation, cancer pathways, chronic disease pathways and waiting lists. The response will be submitted in December and will be shared with members.
RCPath President Dr Bernie Croal commented: “This is our opportunity to use our collective voice to shape the next 10 years of pathology services in the NHS and we are calling on you to have your say. Focussing on both challenges and opportunities, we need to articulate what has to be put in place to support a profession facing rising demand and workforce shortages as well as the solutions we can offer though reform, innovation, technology and digitalisation.”