31 July 2020
The RCSLT has welcomed the publication of NHS England’s People Plan, but called for more details on how the aspirations in it will be realised, more recognition of the valuable contribution of allied health professionals, and a stronger stance against institutional racism in the NHS.
While the plan’s stated aims of supporting and caring for staff, stamping out discrimination, creating more places for students, funding CPD and placements and providing personal protective equipment (PPE) are admirable, our response calls for these commitments to be translated into concrete action.
We also call on NHS England to address serious omissions in the plan. For example, the plan does not do enough to recognise the valuable contribution of allied health professionals or to address shortages of speech and language therapists. Nor does it explicitly address institutional racism in the NHS and how it will be tackled.
