The Telegraph Media Feature: The biggest problem facing the NHS
31 August 2023
In The Telegraph, Prof Nora Colton of GBSH highlights the chronic staffing crisis in the NHS and the need for a comprehensive workforce plan. She emphasises addressing training, retention, and adopting new technologies.

"Finally, it’s not just about the people. It’s also about the tools we give them. Clinicians currently spend 70% of their time on admin, as new research by health data analytics company Beamtree found. Adopting new technologies like AI and automation will give our health workforce the time to care. Alongside increasing productivity, automation can support staff by freeing up clinicians to focus their time and energy on patients.
Nothing good comes easy. Although it’s difficult to get it right, we need a comprehensive workforce plan to save our NHS. At minimum, it must include a funding commitment. Beyond that, we should be more ambitious. At UCL Global Business School for Health, where I teach, we are pushing ourselves to work out what the UK can learn from health systems around the world to make the lives easier for clinicians and patients alike. If done right, the workforce plan could be the start of the path to long-term change."
The Telegraph is a British daily broadsheet newspaper published in London and distributed across the United Kingdom and internationally. It is one of the UK's most popular newspapers, known for its high-quality journalism, in-depth analysis, and commentary on news, politics, business, lifestyle, and culture. With a strong online presence and a dedicated mobile app, The Telegraph provides its readers with up-to-date news and analysis across various platforms.