Dear Constituent,
Thank you for contacting me on NHS workforce planning.
The Chancellor, Rt Hon. Jeremy Hunt MP, made the following announcement to the House in his Autumn Statement:
'[T]he Department of Health and Social Care and the NHS will publish an independently verified plan for the number of doctors, nurses and other professionals we will need in five, 10 and 15 years’ time, taking full account of the need for better retention and productivity improvements.' (Hansard, vol.722, 17 November 2022, cols 849-50)
This was reiterated in the Autumn Statement document:
'[The Government] will introduce measures to support and grow the workforce and improve performance across the health system, including:
• ensuring the NHS has the workforce it needs for the future, including publishing a comprehensive workforce plan next year. This will include independently-verified forecasts for the number of doctors, nurses and other professionals that will be needed in 5, 10 and 15 years’ time, taking full account of improvements in retention and productivity'. (Autumn Statement 2022, p.26)
Thank you again and I hope that this is helpful.
Yours sincerely,
Mel Stride MP
MP for Central Devon
