Read: Shadow Health Secretary Wes Streeting MP launches new Purpose Coalition Health Campaign
A major new Purpose Coalition advocacy campaign was launched today by Labour’s Shadow Secretary of State for Health and Social Care Wes Streeting MP, alongside former Health Ministers Rt Hon Dame Caroline Dineage MP, Rt Hon Anne Milton, and former Member of Sir Keir Starmer’s Shadow Cabinet Nick Forbes CBE.
The ‘Your local NHS: be at the heart of it’ campaign will bring together leaders from across the wider Purpose Coalition to focus on the opportunities that working for NHS Trusts can offer - as a place to work and a place to learn. The campaign will also aim to highlight the role of the private sector in supporting patients, reducing waiting lists, and boosting capacity in order to tackle health inequalities.
Health and wellbeing inequalities lie at the heart of improving social mobility and equality of opportunity, as the Marmot Report 10 Years On set out very clearly. Good health and wellbeing are often a precursor to a person being in a position to make the most of their talents and in work, feel they can consider taking the next step in their career.
The campaign will showcase the work that Coalition members are already doing across the country and demonstrate how their role is crucial for levelling up - making a positive difference not only for their staff but also having a tangible impact on their patients and the communities they serve. It is part of the wider Purpose Coalition campaign that will champion cross-party political engagement with Ministers and Shadow Ministers and MPs alongside thought leadership on making opportunity more accessible, especially in the most deprived parts of the United Kingdom.
Speaking at the event, Labour’s Shadow Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Wes Streeting MP said:
“Whether it’s building a stronger economy, making sure inclusive growth is shared by everyone, making sure that young people growing up in every part of the country from every background have access to the same opportunities, or building an NHS fit for the future, that requires us to work together, have really clear goals, and to make sure we’re making the best of everyone’s potential.”
“The NHS has a big role to play, not just in delivering healthcare but as an anchor institution in local economies, providing great jobs and opportunities to people, being good partners to other parts of the public sector, as well as the business and voluntary sector. It’s great that you’ve pulled people together in this Coalition to think in very broad and strategic terms about how we can build a better future and give everyone light at the end of the tunnel.”
Chair of the Purpose Health Coalition, Anne Milton, said:
“NHS staff are the backbone of our health service, helping to deliver good care and positive outcomes, either in clinical roles on the front line or in non-clinical roles with responsibility for making sure our services work. Recruitment and retention are undoubtedly challenging issues for NHS Trusts at the moment but they have the potential to offer huge opportunities to people looking for rewarding and life-changing careers, as well as to those looking for a career change. This campaign will shine a spotlight on the work that many NHS Trusts are doing across the country, not only to attract and retain staff from their communities but to improve health inequalities more broadly and keep people healthier outside of hospital, helping to drive down waiting times.”
During her address at the event, Dame Caroline Dineage MP, the former Minister for Social Care said:
“Today’s launch is a really valuable opportunity to talk about how NHS leaders can come together and discuss some of the key issues that everybody is facing from staff retention and recruitment, to driving down hospital waiting times that are crucial to tackling health inequalities.”
MPs from across the political divide also attended the event to show their support, including Minister for Scotland John Lamont MP, Shadow Health Minister Karin Smyth MP and more.
The campaign will help to inform a report which will feature case studies from a number of NHS Trusts across the country from staff who are at different points in their employment journey as well as recommendations that will seek to address the recruitment crisis. There will also be an awards ceremony later in the year which will recognise and celebrate the achievements of individual staff.
Find out more at www.nhsheartofit.org
