Preparing for the future

You’ll be joining the NHS at a momentous time with one of the biggest change agendas underway. The publication of the coalition government’s white paper "Equity and Excellence – Liberating the NHS" and The Health and Social Care Bill 2011 sets some huge challenges for the NHS and how we operate, including estimated efficiency savings of £20 billion.

The urgent need for cost savings combined with an emphasis on improved quality means that existing budgets are under considerable pressure however, the demand for quality healthcare and exceptional leadership to drive change is even more crucial. The increasing pressures faced by the NHS will cause dramatic changes to the structure and workforce but our visions and values remain the same – putting patients at the heart of everything the NHS does.

Our vision is of an NHS that is responsive to the needs of our society and continues to deliver a world class health service based upon our core values. We strive to shape our services around the needs and preferences of our patients, develop inspirational leaders and drive up standards, whilst delivering better value for money and creating a healthier nation.

The future of the NHS heavily relies on strong leadership and clear direction, and with the formation of the National Leadership Academy, designed to nurture the next generation of NHS leaders, we're already taking steps to ensure that we have exceptional leadership talent across the NHS.

In addition the NHS has launched the QIPP (Quality, Innovation and Productivity and Prevention) programme, which looks at improving quality in the NHS through encouraging changes in behaviour and mindset to deliver innovative ideas and improved productivity. Key to achieving this agenda will be visionary leaders. Leaders working together with clinicians, across the new NHS landscape, to make a real difference to the lives of people throughout England. Being a part of the graduate scheme means you too will have an essential role to play in this programme. The NHS Graduate Management Training Scheme generates savings per trainee in the tens of thousands of pounds read about how our trainees contribute here.

It is vital that we never lose sight of the values that drive us, so whatever the future holds, we will continue to save lives, improve health and show compassion to people when their need is greatest. We want all of our people to share in the principles that underpin everything we do, because in doing so, we'll see the NHS become faster, smarter, more efficient, effective and flexible. And most crucially, we'll be better placed to put the patient first. You can find out more about it here.