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British Dietetic Association
supports findings of House of Lords Committee report
THE British Dietetic Association today
welcomes the findings of the House of Lords Committee on the long term
sustainability of the NHS. The committee makes a number of recommendations that
it believes are necessary to ensure that the NHS is sustainable and free at the
point of use.
The British Dietetic Association, founded in 1936, is the professional
association for dieticians in Great Britain and Northern Ireland. It is the
nation's largest organisation of food and nutrition professionals with almost
9,000 members. The BDA is also an active trade union.
The BDA, which submitted written evidence to the inquiry and featured within the
report, supports the committee's call for GDP linked funding increases for both
the NHS and social care services beyond 2020. The report also recognises the
need to better support the current healthcare workforce and put in place
stronger plans for the future workforce.
BDA Chief Executive Andy Burman said:- "The BDA is pleased to see that the
report recognises the need for longer term thinking and planning in our health
services. The NHS and Social Care need a solid and long term financial
settlement. This includes better support for dietitians and other staff working
within the NHS and social care, who have just received news of their sixth
consecutive below inflation pay settlement.
The report also recognises that a shift toward prevention is going to be vital.
We know that dieticians have the skills and capability to help prevent or reduce
the impact of a wide range of long term health conditions, and that 10.8% of all
illness is caused by poor diet(1). Unfortunately we are instead seeing local
government public health services being cut while the 'radical upgrade in
prevention' promised by NHS England has failed to materialise. We hope this
report will spur a change in direction."
The BDA also fully endorses the committee's call for the government to takes
steps to reassure and retain overseas trained staff working in the NHS and adult
social care following Brexit.
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