My final message for the year, comes on day 58 of my #First100days at HEE.

It is hard to believe that I have been in post here for almost three months already, and I must admit, that I have valued every minute.

The support and kindness received from many of you across the health and care system has really helped me to both understand HEE’s role in planning, recruiting, educating and training the health workforce, as well as making me think about how we can continue to work together to ensure HEE continues to meet your needs in the future. Afterall, the NHS cannot provide high quality, safe clinical services without a highly trained and experienced workforce to deliver it.

I’m keen to share with you, my personal insights about things I didn’t know about HEE previously, but now do, which I’ve found fascinating and a real eye opener. As HEE has evolved the depth and breadth of our work has grown immensely. Here are some of the things I’ve learnt:

• We have many amazing experts in a vast range of areas of health and care, all hugely enthusiastic and fired up about what they care about.

• There are lots of examples of innovations which could be rolled out by training new staff to work in different ways, as well as by giving the current workforce the space, development and support they need to do so.

• We are the holders of such rich data which holds so much positive potential.

• We have to play a central role in future workforce planning in partnership.

• We have the power to promote inclusion in learning and practice in healthcare in the NHS and beyond.

• We have the ability to promote an improvement culture in the NHS through our programmes of work and influence. The People Plan for 2020/21 has set out an updated vision for tackling the workforce challenges the NHS is facing – supply, culture, reform – and HEE also has a crucial part to play in putting that into practice.

• We have a reach way beyond England; this year our e-Learning for Healthcare resources have been accessed over 20 million times across the globe.

• We have a responsibility to contribute towards the reduction of health inequalities and can do so in so many different ways.

• We already do so much with our social care partners. This year has shown more than ever the interdependence between health and social care and the need for close collaboration, mutual support and common understanding. Looking ahead HEE is keen to continue working with the social care system, supporting healthcare workers at all levels to make sure the healthcare needs of those who receive social care are met as well as those in the population as a whole.

And there’s lots more, too much to share in this note!

Overarching all of this is understanding that our span of potential influence is far greater than realised. We still don’t know what the future holds but the challenges we have faced and overcome during the pandemic must also be considered as opportunities and HEE will be bolder, braver and confident as we go forward.

As we head into the festive season, there is no doubt that this Christmas will be very different, and I’d also like to acknowledge how difficult it has been for all other religious and cultural festivals, which have been affected throughout the year. COVID has had such an impact on all our lives, particularly those of Our NHS People and our students and learners. Thank you all for everything you have done in our work together.

I am truly proud to be part of HEE’s future and look forward to working with you all in the New Year. Wishing you all, a safe and healthy festive break.

Best Wishes

Navina

Dr Navina Evans

Chief Executive

Health Education England