{"id":142852,"date":"2024-09-23T14:20:41","date_gmt":"2024-09-23T13:20:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.politics.co.uk\/?p=142852"},"modified":"2024-09-30T10:48:17","modified_gmt":"2024-09-30T09:48:17","slug":"an-agenda-for-change-the-mdus-parliamentary-priorities","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.politics.co.uk\/opinion\/2024\/09\/23\/an-agenda-for-change-the-mdus-parliamentary-priorities\/","title":{"rendered":"An agenda for change: the MDU’s parliamentary priorities"},"content":{"rendered":"

When he stepped through the door for the first time as Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Wes Streeting knew to expect a full in-tray. There are no quick fixes to the issues facing the healthcare system, from waiting lists to the sustainability of social care. Lord Darzi\u2019s subsequent report has laid bare the extent of these challenges.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Now, as the Labour Party gathers for its first party conference in government in fourteen years, the MDU is publishing its government priorities. These priorities look to address three major topics that the government may wish to start considering when parliament resumes in October, including:<\/span><\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Reform of healthcare professional regulation<\/span><\/li>\n
  2. Action on clinical negligence costs<\/span><\/li>\n
  3. Supporting the health and wellbeing of the workforce<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Reform of healthcare professional regulation<\/b><\/p>\n

    No one would design the current system of healthcare professional regulation, which is outdated and in need of reform. That is why doctors and dentists have been promised change for years. In 2022, a blueprint was published to do just this, with reform promised for doctors within the year. As we approach 2025, they are still regulated using the old system with no change in sight. Dentists have not even been given a commitment on when their regulator will be reformed.<\/span><\/p>\n

    Undergoing a General Medical Council (GMC) or General Dental Council (GDC) investigation is one of the most stressful experiences of a clinician\u2019s professional life. The stress can have a devastating impact. Part of the reason is fitness to practice procedures, which are governed by outdated legislation. An investigation takes a significant amount of time too. A GMC investigation takes an average of 102 weeks or nearly two years, and a GDC investigation over 140 weeks or over two and a half years. A reset is clearly needed.<\/span><\/p>\n

    The government can change this. We are calling for the government to:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n