Source · Select Committees · Health and Social Care Committee
Recommendation 66
66
Accepted
Paragraph: 218
Wider market forces impede health and social care worker recruitment and retention.
Conclusion
Wider market forces, including the rising cost of living, a lack of affordable housing, and a lack of public transport in remote locations are having an impact on the recruitment and retention of health and social care workers. These issues manifest differently across the country, and it is clear that without action to address these wider issues, the NHS and social care sectors will continue to struggle to recruit and retain staff.
Government Response Summary
The government agrees with the statement, detailing existing and announced support for the cost of living, including energy bill relief and wider support, and referencing the £11.5 billion Affordable Homes Programme to address housing issues.
Paragraph Reference:
218
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
The Government agrees with this statement. The government understands the pressures people are facing with the cost of living and has taken further decisive action to support people with their energy bills. The government’s Energy Price Guarantee will save a typical British household around £700 this winter, based on what energy price would’ve been under the current price cap – reducing bills by roughly a third. This support will be in place from 1 October 2022 until 31 March 2023. A review will be launched to consider more targeted measures to support households with their energy bills after this period. This is in addition to the over £37bn of cost of living support announced earlier this year which includes the £400 non-repayable discount to eligible households provided through the Energy Bills Support Scheme. Employers across the NHS are making an effort to support their staff with the cost of living challenge, encouraging staff to have conversations about financial wellbeing and highlighting the range of employee benefits already available to many NHS employees. Many NHS organisations are already providing a range of support on issues such as travel, childcare and housing and will continue to adapt these offers to meet the needs of staff going forward. NHS Employers have published a guide for employers here on how they can support their staff on the cost of living challenge. The provision of affordable housing is part of the Government’s plan to build more homes and provide aspiring homeowners with a step onto the housing ladder. Our £11.5 billion Affordable Homes Programme will deliver thousands of affordable homes for both rent and to buy right across the country.