Healthcare reforms will threaten education and training in the NHS, warns union

The warning adds to a growing list of concerns about the reforms from GPs, nursing staff and allied health professionals.
 
Under the proposals, Strategic Healthcare Authorities, which provide funding for health professionals, such as nurses and midwives, to receive training in higher education, will be scrapped and the responsibility for arranging education and training will be passed on to GPs.
 
UCU said it would be examining the forthcoming consultation paper on NHS education commissioning, due to be published next month, in forensic detail and said it was concerned that planned £20billion efficiency savings could lead to 'corners being cut'.
 
UCU general secretary, Sally Hunt, said: 'All our sister unions in the health service are raising concerns about the nature and pace of these reforms and highlighting the impact for patients. At the moment no one has even thought through all the implications on the education of healthcare staff which will also have a huge impact on patient care. Universities have a fantastic track record of providing education and training for healthcare professionals working in the NHS. By moving to a system of local commissioning of this scale the government is in danger of destroying this relationship and encouraging employers to pursue cheaper alternatives.'