THE business of government is ever carried out in a frenzied present. At its worst, it means winging it. At its best, it means planning ahead. In Scotland, evidence for that, particularly in areas like education, has sometimes seemed scanty. Now an Audit Scotland report highlights the same lack regarding long-term planning of the NHS workforce.
Audit Scotland regards the matter as “urgent”. Something must be done about the future now. It says the likely impact of reforms shifting services towards more community and home-based care remains unexamined while responsibility for workforce planning across different NHS bodies is confused.
The report is not all critical. It notes spending on staff is increasing and numbers are at their highest ever. It also contains constructive ideas such as collating different boards’ assessments of workforce demand and supply to form a joined-up picture. And, with Brexit looming, it suggests collating data on EU citizens working in the NHS.
These measures sound necessary rather than optional. Long-term planning can be forgotten amid short-term propaganda battles about workforce numbers. Accusations about getting on with the day job can obscure the need to consider the next-day job. But planning ahead is preparation for efficient future performance. And that is better than winging it.