Driving change for our specialty: our recent public affairs wins

As the dedicated policy lead, my focus is to channel our community’s expertise directly into the heart of Westminster and the devolved parliaments. Our independent voice is our greatest asset, allowing us to speak freely on the issues that matter most to intensive care - but that independence is only possible because of our members. 

We are here to represent you, and it is the collective strength of our membership that gives us the authority to be heard. To truly add your voice to this work and ensure your frontline experience reaches the people making the big decisions, being a member of the Society is essential. By standing together, we ensure that the "frontline" isn't just a phrase used by politicians, but a real, guiding force in national policy. 

Here is a look at what we have achieved together this year so far. 

Improving patient flow 

A major challenge for the wider NHS right now is patient flow. We hear from members that blockages in the hospital system are a primary driver of cancelled elective surgeries and ever-growing waiting lists. This often comes down to a severe lack of intermediate, or Enhanced Care (Level 1), beds. As the intensive care community is well aware, without these crucial step-down options, patients either remain in highly specialised intensive care beds far longer than necessary, or acute ward beds are blocked by patients awaiting rehabilitation. Bridging this gap between intensive care and general wards is crucial to ensuring the health service uses its resources effectively.  

We are currently meeting and engaging with several MPs across the political spectrum to make the case for the formal development of dedicated Enhanced Care units. We are showing policymakers that providing a safe, cost-effective step-down environment for patients leaving intensive care is key to unlocking patient flow for the entire hospital. These patients’ needs still exceed standard ward capabilities, and this must be taken into account. 

Turning evidence into action: The Covid-19 Inquiry 

Publishing our formal statement on the Module 3 of the UK Covid-19 inquiry was a significant milestone, but reports alone do not change policy. The true measure of success will be whether those asks are recognised. 

The UK’s current lack of baseline critical care capacity is no longer just a healthcare issue; it is a national security vulnerability. We hold serious concerns that the UK's intensive care infrastructure currently lacks the surge capacity to face another crisis. We are working behind the scenes to ensure we are better prepared for the next global pandemic or major conflict.  

We have already been successful gaining support in this regard. Baroness Finlay has been a fantastic champion for our specialty, tabling targeted questions that mean that the government provides answers on the official record. 

Following our specific calls for better data to manage ICU capacity, we are now in the room with NHS England to actively shape a real-time intensive care dashboard.  

We also posed a question to government on their assessment of our calls for a workforce covenant to protect staff wellbeing. Following the pandemic, up to two thirds of intensive care staff are estimated to meet the threshold for a significant mental health disorder, including PTSD, severe anxiety and depression. It comes as no surprise that this is a primary driver of absenteeism and colleagues leaving the profession. The government has promised to introduce NHS Staff Wellbeing Hubs in the 10-Year Workforce Plan, which is a start. However, we intend to work with members to shape a case for long-term, ring-fenced mental health funding specifically tailored to the ICU. Our advocacy sits directly alongside our Thriving at Work programme, which provides practical peer support designed by and for intensive care staff.  

Better rehabilitation  

We also recently wrote to the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care to stress that cancer recovery does not end at ICU discharge. We are urging that post-ICU rehabilitation becomes a core, funded part of the National Cancer Plan.  

We continue to engage with policymakers to make the case for post-ICU rehabilitation both through the Intensive Care Society’s National Rehabilitation Collaborative and our joint work with Community Rehabilitation Alliance, as we know this helps improve patient outcomes and reduce costly readmissions.  

Engagement with NHS Employers 

Through our Consultant PAG we have formally requested that NHS Employers update national guidance regarding the interpretation of consultant contracts for those with dual and triple accreditation. In a letter to Interim Chief Executive Dean Royles, we highlighted that the rules from 2009 do not recognise the extra years of training needed for modern Intensive Care Medicine. This often means that a new consultant’s starting pay and seniority do not reflect the actual time they spent in training. Because hospitals currently make their own local arrangements, pay and recognition are inconsistent across the country. We are calling for a national standard to ensure all consultants are treated fairly and that the system matches the modern training pathways set by the General Medical Council. 

Reaching across all four nations 

We are actively building relationships across all four nations of the UK. Because healthcare is devolved, securing dedicated mental health funding or rolling out real-time dashboards requires us to be just as present in Holyrood, the Senedd, and the Northern Ireland Assembly as we are in Westminster. We are adapting our advocacy to show policymakers exactly how our clinical goals solve their biggest political challenges. 

The Society's voice is being heard loud and clear. Thank you for providing the frontline evidence that makes this advocacy possible. 

Call to action: help shape our work 

Our political influence is only as strong as the support and clinical expertise behind it. If you are passionate about improving intensive care and want to help inform our policy work, please get in touch. Whether it is sharing your frontline experiences, or helping shape our advocacy campaigns, your voice is vital. Email us at policy@ics.ac.uk to join the conversation and help drive change for our community.