NHS nursing workforce

Public Accounts Committee Closed Inquiry
Opened: 15 Jun 2020 Closed: 9 Nov 2020 Parliament page
Despite a range of actions to resolve the long term issue of workforce shortages in nursing, including tackling worsening retention rates, problems have persisted. The NHS Long Term Plan signalled the need for an increase in the number of nurses, and in December 2019 the government confirmed its pledge of … Read more
1 Recommendation
27 Conclusions
1 Report
1 Oral session
1 Letter
1 Event
Activity timeline 5 events
3 Feb
2021
Report published
1 Feb
2021
Correspondence
23 Sep
2020
Report published
20 Jul
2020
Oral evidence
20 Jul
2020
Formal meeting (oral evidence session) · The Wilson Room, Portcullis House
Oral evidence sessions 1 session
20 Jul 2020
View on parliament.uk
NHS nursing workforce
Lee McDonough · Department for Energy Security and Net Zero Mark Radford · Health Education England Prerana Issar · NHS England and NHS Improvement Ruth May · NHS England and NHS Improvement Sir Chris Wormald · Department of Health and Social Care
Title HC No. Published Items Response
Eighteenth Report - NHS nursing workforce HC 408 23 Sep 2020 28 Responded
Recommendations & Conclusions
28 results
2 Conclusion
Eighteenth Report - NHS nursing wo…
The Department could not show that its commitment to 50,000 more nurses by 2025 matches...
The Department could not show that its commitment to 50,000 more nurses by 2025 matches the actual need for nurses in the NHS. It is essential that the NHS understands not just how many nurses it needs, but where and … Read more
Government Response
2020. Funding offered is determined by an objective formula, based on assessment of the Town Investment Plan. Feedback is provided on request. 2.4 In relation to funding decisions on the … Read more
HM Treasury
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3 Conclusion
Eighteenth Report - NHS nursing wo…
We are not convinced that the Department has plans for how the NHS will secure...
We are not convinced that the Department has plans for how the NHS will secure 50,000 more nurses by 2025. The Department plans to meet the 50,000 commitment by increasing the domestic supply of registered nurses, recruiting from overseas and … Read more
Government Response
3. 1 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Ta rget implementation date: Autumn 2021 3.2 The commitment to 50,000 more nurses is underpinned by a robust costed delivery programme … Read more
HM Treasury
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4 Recommendation
Eighteenth Report - NHS nursing wo…
The nursing needs of social care remain an unaddressed afterthought for the Department of Health...
The nursing needs of social care remain an unaddressed afterthought for the Department of Health & Social Care. Vacancies for nurses in social care have increased from a rate of 4.1% in 2012–13 to 9.9% in 2018–19, while the number … Read more
HM Treasury
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5 Conclusion
Eighteenth Report - NHS nursing wo…
The removal of the NHS bursary in 2017 signally failed to achieve the Department’s ambition...
The removal of the NHS bursary in 2017 signally failed to achieve the Department’s ambition to increase nursing student numbers. From 2017, the Department changed the funding arrangements for nursing, midwifery and allied health professional students. It removed the NHS … Read more
Government Response
5.1 The Government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Recommendation implemented 5.2 The department, NHSE&I and HEE wrote to the Committee on 11 November 2020 outlining implementation of the Committee’s recommendation. … Read more
HM Treasury
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6 Conclusion
Eighteenth Report - NHS nursing wo…
The COVID-19 outbreak presents new challenges, as well as opportunities, for improving the recruitment and...
The COVID-19 outbreak presents new challenges, as well as opportunities, for improving the recruitment and retention of nurses in the NHS. In particular, it is vital that the NHS protects the mental health and well-being of nurses who have contributed … Read more
Government Response
6. 1 The Government agrees with the Committee’s recommendations. Ta rget implementation date: Spring 2021 6.2 It is important that as a health and care system, the department and NHS … Read more
HM Treasury
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1 Conclusion
Eighteenth Report - NHS nursing wo…
On the basis of a Report by the Comptroller and Auditor General, we took evidence...
On the basis of a Report by the Comptroller and Auditor General, we took evidence from the Department of Health & Social Care (the Department), NHS England and NHS Improvement (NHSE&I) and Health Education England (HEE) on the NHS nursing workforce.1
Government Response
In 2019, the NHS employed around 320,000 nurses in hospital and community services, making up a quarter of all NHS staff, with a further 24,000 employed in GP practices. Around … Read more
HM Treasury
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7 Conclusion
Eighteenth Report - NHS nursing wo…
NHSE&I told us that the advent of COVID-19 meant that workforce planning over a horizon...
NHSE&I told us that the advent of COVID-19 meant that workforce planning over a horizon of three to four years was not currently possible, and at the moment the main focus of the system was on winter planning. It thought … Read more
Government Response
2.1 The government disagrees with the Committee’s recommendation. 2.2 The government agrees that the modelling will need to be updated in light of the COVID-19 outbreak. However, it cannot currently … Read more
HM Treasury
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8 Conclusion
Eighteenth Report - NHS nursing wo…
It is essential that the NHS understands not just how many nurses it needs, but...
It is essential that the NHS understands not just how many nurses it needs, but where and in what specialisms. However, the NAO and other stakeholders have noted that the NHS Long Term Plan contained service commitments that did not … Read more
Government Response
2.1 The government disagrees with the Committee’s recommendation. 2.2 The government agrees that the modelling will need to be updated in light of the COVID-19 outbreak. However, it cannot currently … Read more
HM Treasury
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9 Conclusion
Eighteenth Report - NHS nursing wo…
The Department acknowledged that the demand for nurses and the extent of nurse shortages vary...
The Department acknowledged that the demand for nurses and the extent of nurse shortages vary between specialisms and regions.14 For example, in the period July– September 2019, NHS trusts in England reported an overall nursing vacancy rate of 12%, but … Read more
Government Response
2.1 The government disagrees with the Committee’s recommendation. 2.2 The government agrees that the modelling will need to be updated in light of the COVID-19 outbreak. However, it cannot currently … Read more
HM Treasury
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10 Conclusion
Eighteenth Report - NHS nursing wo…
The Department explained that estimates of the number of nurses the NHS needs and where...
The Department explained that estimates of the number of nurses the NHS needs and where are not determined centrally but are produced locally through a bottom-up approach. NHSE&I said that local areas are currently revising their workforce plans in light … Read more
Government Response
2.1 The government disagrees with the Committee’s recommendation. 2.2 The government agrees that the modelling will need to be updated in light of the COVID-19 outbreak. However, it cannot currently … Read more
HM Treasury
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11 Conclusion
Eighteenth Report - NHS nursing wo…
Nursing students cover both health and social care in their training and decide which sector...
Nursing students cover both health and social care in their training and decide which sector to work in after they graduate. This means that social care providers recruit from the same overall pool of nurses as the NHS. The Department … Read more
Government Response
4.1 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Target implementation date: Spring 2021 4.2 Whilst the government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation, it does not agree with the conclusion that … Read more
HM Treasury
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12 Conclusion
Eighteenth Report - NHS nursing wo…
The Chief Nursing Officer of NHSE&I emphasised how the COVID-19 pandemic has illustrated the importance...
The Chief Nursing Officer of NHSE&I emphasised how the COVID-19 pandemic has illustrated the importance of social care and the value of better integration between health and social care. She commented that “if anything good can come out of it … Read more
Government Response
4.1 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Target implementation date: Spring 2021 4.2 Whilst the government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation, it does not agree with the conclusion that … Read more
HM Treasury
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13 Conclusion
Eighteenth Report - NHS nursing wo…
The Interim People Plan envisages a more pivotal role for integrated care systems, which are...
The Interim People Plan envisages a more pivotal role for integrated care systems, which are local partnerships of health and social care bodies that are jointly involved in local workforce planning and strategy. However, the NAO reported that partnerships are … Read more
HM Treasury
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14 Conclusion
Eighteenth Report - NHS nursing wo…
The Department told us that its initiatives to increase the supply of nurses into the...
The Department told us that its initiatives to increase the supply of nurses into the NHS should benefit social care as both sectors have the same entry route. However, our Committee remains concerned about potential barriers to moving between sectors … Read more
Government Response
4.1 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Target implementation date: Spring 2021 4.2 Whilst the government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation, it does not agree with the conclusion that … Read more
HM Treasury
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15 Conclusion
Eighteenth Report - NHS nursing wo…
In December 2019, the government confirmed its manifesto commitment to increase nurse numbers by 50,000...
In December 2019, the government confirmed its manifesto commitment to increase nurse numbers by 50,000 by 2025.37 To deliver this, the Department has set up a programme board, chaired by the Minister of State, which brings together all the relevant … Read more
Government Response
3. 1 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Ta rget implementation date: Autumn 2021 3.2 The commitment to 50,000 more nurses is underpinned by a robust costed delivery programme … Read more
HM Treasury
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16 Conclusion
Eighteenth Report - NHS nursing wo…
The Department told us that it planned to meet the commitment to deliver 50,000 more...
The Department told us that it planned to meet the commitment to deliver 50,000 more nurses by increasing the domestic supply of graduate nurses, widening access to nursing through, for example, apprenticeships, improving retention rates and continuing to recruit from … Read more
Government Response
3. 1 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Ta rget implementation date: Autumn 2021 3.2 The commitment to 50,000 more nurses is underpinned by a robust costed delivery programme … Read more
HM Treasury
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17 Conclusion
Eighteenth Report - NHS nursing wo…
The Long Term Plan signalled the need for a “step change in the recruitment of...
The Long Term Plan signalled the need for a “step change in the recruitment of international nurses”. In 2019, there were 51,000 overseas nurses working in the NHS (17% of the nursing workforce), with overseas nurses already making up between … Read more
Government Response
3. 1 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Ta rget implementation date: Autumn 2021 3.2 The commitment to 50,000 more nurses is underpinned by a robust costed delivery programme … Read more
HM Treasury
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18 Conclusion
Eighteenth Report - NHS nursing wo…
HEE acknowledged that there were global differences in nursing salaries, alongside other structural and market...
HEE acknowledged that there were global differences in nursing salaries, alongside other structural and market differences, with other countries having more leeway in what they can pay than the UK. More generally, NHSE&I accept that pay remains “an important 37 … Read more
Government Response
3. 1 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Ta rget implementation date: Autumn 2021 3.2 The commitment to 50,000 more nurses is underpinned by a robust costed delivery programme … Read more
HM Treasury
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19 Conclusion
Eighteenth Report - NHS nursing wo…
The Department and HEE highlighted the important role that apprenticeships and nursing associates play in...
The Department and HEE highlighted the important role that apprenticeships and nursing associates play in widening access to the nursing profession, by enabling people to earn money as they train. In the case of nursing associates, which is a separate … Read more
Government Response
3. 1 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Ta rget implementation date: Autumn 2021 3.2 The commitment to 50,000 more nurses is underpinned by a robust costed delivery programme … Read more
HM Treasury
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20 Conclusion
Eighteenth Report - NHS nursing wo…
NHSE&I emphasised that retaining staff is a “valid and important” supply route, which represents the...
NHSE&I emphasised that retaining staff is a “valid and important” supply route, which represents the “best investment” for increasing numbers. It told us the main factors affecting retention include staff feeling stressed by the work, lack of flexibility and a … Read more
Government Response
3. 1 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Ta rget implementation date: Autumn 2021 3.2 The commitment to 50,000 more nurses is underpinned by a robust costed delivery programme … Read more
HM Treasury
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21 Conclusion
Eighteenth Report - NHS nursing wo…
From 2017, the Department changed the funding arrangements for nursing, midwifery and allied health professional...
From 2017, the Department changed the funding arrangements for nursing, midwifery and allied health professional students. Prior to 2017, HEE paid tuition fees to universities and NHS bursaries to students to cover their living costs. Instead, these students moved onto … Read more
Government Response
5.1 The Government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Recommendation implemented 5.2 The department, NHSE&I and HEE wrote to the Committee on 11 November 2020 outlining implementation of the Committee’s recommendation. … Read more
HM Treasury
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22 Conclusion
Eighteenth Report - NHS nursing wo…
The policy change impacted on some students and regions more than others.
The policy change impacted on some students and regions more than others. For example, from 2016 to 2018, there was a 10% increase in the number of students accepted onto nursing degree courses for children’s nursing and for applicants from … Read more
Government Response
5.1 The Government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Recommendation implemented 5.2 The department, NHSE&I and HEE wrote to the Committee on 11 November 2020 outlining implementation of the Committee’s recommendation. … Read more
HM Treasury
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23 Conclusion
Eighteenth Report - NHS nursing wo…
Since 2017, the number of people accepted onto nursing and midwifery degree courses has increased...
Since 2017, the number of people accepted onto nursing and midwifery degree courses has increased from 22,045 in 2017 to 23,060 in 2019. This still means that, in 2019, only 430 (2%) more people accepted a place on a nursing … Read more
Government Response
5.1 The Government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Recommendation implemented 5.2 The department, NHSE&I and HEE wrote to the Committee on 11 November 2020 outlining implementation of the Committee’s recommendation. … Read more
HM Treasury
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24 Conclusion
Eighteenth Report - NHS nursing wo…
In December 2019, the government announced the introduction of a new maintenance grant for nursing...
In December 2019, the government announced the introduction of a new maintenance grant for nursing students from September 2020, which consists of a non-repayable grant of £5,000 to £8,000 to help with living costs. Students will still pay their own … Read more
Government Response
5.1 The Government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Recommendation implemented 5.2 The department, NHSE&I and HEE wrote to the Committee on 11 November 2020 outlining implementation of the Committee’s recommendation. … Read more
HM Treasury
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25 Conclusion
Eighteenth Report - NHS nursing wo…
NHSE&I acknowledged that there are worrying signs of stress and burnout amongst NHS staff since...
NHSE&I acknowledged that there are worrying signs of stress and burnout amongst NHS staff since the COVID-19 outbreak. It cited figures from a Nursing Times survey, 56 C&AG’s Report, para 2.6. Based on England-domiciled applicants, UK universities, and includes midwifery … Read more
Government Response
6. 1 The Government agrees with the Committee’s recommendations. Ta rget implementation date: Spring 2021 6.2 It is important that as a health and care system, the department and NHS … Read more
HM Treasury
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26 Conclusion
Eighteenth Report - NHS nursing wo…
The Royal College of Nursing noted that, to retain nurses who worked during the pandemic,...
The Royal College of Nursing noted that, to retain nurses who worked during the pandemic, it will be essential to provide access to specialised mental health support, carry out risk assessments for staff and ensure people are able to take … Read more
Government Response
6. 1 The Government agrees with the Committee’s recommendations. Ta rget implementation date: Spring 2021 6.2 It is important that as a health and care system, the department and NHS … Read more
HM Treasury
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27 Conclusion
Eighteenth Report - NHS nursing wo…
NHSE&I noted that over 32,000 nurses stepped up to support the NHS during the COVID-19...
NHSE&I noted that over 32,000 nurses stepped up to support the NHS during the COVID-19 outbreak, including former nurses and over 20,000 students. However, it acknowledged that there needs to be better local systems for retaining these returners, such as … Read more
Government Response
6. 1 The Government agrees with the Committee’s recommendations. Ta rget implementation date: Spring 2021 6.2 It is important that as a health and care system, the department and NHS … Read more
HM Treasury
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28 Conclusion
Eighteenth Report - NHS nursing wo…
NHSE&I acknowledged that COVID-19 has had a disproportionate impact on Black, Asian and minority ethnic...
NHSE&I acknowledged that COVID-19 has had a disproportionate impact on Black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) staff and admitted that there is variability in how well these staff have been supported during the pandemic. In response to our questions 64 … Read more
Government Response
6. 1 The Government agrees with the Committee’s recommendations. Ta rget implementation date: Spring 2021 6.2 It is important that as a health and care system, the department and NHS … Read more
HM Treasury
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Correspondence 1 letter
1 Feb 2021 Correspondence from Sir Chris Wormald, Permanent Secretary, Department of Health and Social Care, re House of Commons Committee of Public Accounts Eighth Report of Session 2019-21, NHS Capital Expenditure and Financial Management, dated 29 January 2021.
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