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Investment and reform for NHS staff: taking forward the NHS Plan

The NHS Plan, announced in July 2000, entails efforts towards modernising the service through increasing staff members and promoting patient-centred care. This progress report provides an account of what has been achieved over the past year in expanding the workforce, sets out plans for increasing investment in training, and gives projected figures for staff numbers at 2004 and 2009. It goes on to outline plans for attracting and retaining staff, international recruitment, reforming working practices, and revising arrangements for workforce planning. A concluding chapter discusses planned investment in reforming education and training of the entire NHS workforce, particularly through common learning programmes, supporting continuing professional development, and encouraging lifelong learning. The report includes brief illustrative case studies.

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