Planning for the future
8.55 Changing patterns of service provision and new expectations must be translated into programmes to train, develop and recruit the workforce to meet the demand in the short, medium and longer term.
8.56 A review has been conducted of workforce planning arrangements for all professional groups within the NHS. It considered the roles and responsibilities at all levels and the opportunities and barriers for effective workforce planning. Following consultation on the review's proposals, detailed implementation plans are now being drawn up. They will be published in autumn.
8.57 The National Cancer Director will work closely with the proposed National Workforce Development Board that will have responsibility for setting, in a multi-disciplinary context, the strategic direction for workforce development issues, and with the Royal Colleges to refine and develop calculations of the target number of consultants in each specialty.
8.58 But action also needs to be taken at a local level. Cancer networks and NHS Trusts will need to give early priority to developing workforce planning arrangements for cancer. All cancer networks will need to prepare and agree workforce plans to implement their cancer service strategies. These will be consolidated at national level to inform national workforce planning and training numbers.
