Select Committee · Public Accounts Committee

NHS nursing workforce

Status: Closed Opened: 15 Jun 2020 Closed: 9 Nov 2020 15 recommendations 13 conclusions 1 report

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 50,000 more NHS nurses by … Show more

Clear

Reports

1 report
Title HC No. Published Items Response
Eighteenth Report - NHS nursing workforce HC 408 23 Sep 2020 28 Responded

Recommendations & Conclusions

17 items
3 Recommendation Eighteenth Report - NHS nursing workfor… Accepted

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 improving retention rates. However, it could not tell us how … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government accepted the recommendation, agreeing to publish detailed, costed action plans for each nursing supply route and their expected contributions to the 50,000 nurse target as part of the People Plan by Autumn 2021. They noted a three-year pay deal and continued reliance on …
Read full response →
HM Treasury
5 Recommendation Eighteenth Report - NHS nursing workfor… Accepted

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 bursary and payment of tuition fees for students and moved … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government agrees with the recommendation, confirming that the Department, NHSE&I, and HEE wrote to the Committee on 11 November 2020 as requested and will share further UCAS data when it becomes available in January 2021.
Read full response →
HM Treasury
6 Recommendation Eighteenth Report - NHS nursing workfor… Accepted

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 so much during the COVID-19 outbreak. NHSE&I told us it … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government agrees with the recommendations, committing to continue assessing COVID-19 challenges on nursing recruitment and retention, and detailing existing comprehensive health and wellbeing support for staff, including developing mental health wellbeing hubs in seven regions.
Read full response →
HM Treasury
11 Conclusion Eighteenth Report - NHS nursing workfor… Accepted

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 noted that approximately 80% of nursing graduates join the NHS … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government agrees with the Committee's observation but disputes the characterization of social care nursing as an 'unaddressed afterthought,' outlining significant funding to Skills for Care, commitment to increasing Nursing Associates, and the appointment of a Chief Nurse for Social Care.
Read full response →
HM Treasury
12 Recommendation Eighteenth Report - NHS nursing workfor… Accepted

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 [the pandemic], that will be the focus on social care” … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government accepts the recommendation for better integration of health and social care workforce planning, citing £26.3 million funding for Skills for Care, support for Nursing Associate Apprenticeships, and the appointment of a Chief Nurse for Social Care by Spring 2021.
Read full response →
HM Treasury
14 Recommendation Eighteenth Report - NHS nursing workfor… Accepted

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 such as nurses who move from the NHS into social … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government accepts the recommendation to improve integration and support for the social care nursing workforce, detailing £26.3 million funding for Skills for Care, promotion of apprenticeships, and the appointment of a Chief Nurse for Social Care by Spring 2021.
Read full response →
HM Treasury
15 Recommendation Eighteenth Report - NHS nursing workfor… Accepted

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 bodies with responsibilities for nursing.38 The Department clarified that it … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government accepts the implied recommendation to deliver on its 50,000 more nurses commitment, outlining its robust delivery programme encompassing various recruitment and retention strategies and promising to publish plans by Autumn 2021.
Read full response →
HM Treasury
16 Recommendation Eighteenth Report - NHS nursing workfor… Accepted

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 overseas. However, the Department and HEE were unable to quantify … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government accepts the recommendation to quantify the numbers of nurses expected from different supply routes for the 50,000 target, stating it has adapted its programme and will publish detailed plans as soon as practicable by Autumn 2021.
Read full response →
HM Treasury
17 Recommendation Eighteenth Report - NHS nursing workfor… Accepted

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 20% to 25% of new joiners since 2012.42 HEE confirmed … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government accepts the implied recommendation regarding international nurse recruitment, confirming it is part of the 50,000 more nurses target and that detailed plans will be published as soon as practicable by Autumn 2021.
Read full response →
HM Treasury
18 Recommendation Eighteenth Report - NHS nursing workfor… Accepted

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 Prime Minister’s Office, Press Release – Prime Minister backs NHS … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government accepts the implied recommendation on nursing pay by referring to a 2018 three-year pay deal that increased starting salaries and stating it will rely on the independent NHS Pay Review Body for future pay considerations.
Read full response →
HM Treasury
20 Recommendation Eighteenth Report - NHS nursing workfor… Accepted

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 lack of continuous learning and development. It told us that … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government accepts the implied recommendation to focus on staff retention, confirming it is a key part of the 50,000 nurse delivery programme and that detailed plans will be published as soon as practicable by Autumn 2021.
Read full response →
HM Treasury
21 Conclusion Eighteenth Report - NHS nursing workfor… Accepted

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 the existing student finance arrangements, with most eligible for full … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government states the underlying recommendation has been implemented, confirming that the department, NHSE&I, and HEE wrote to the Committee on 11 November 2020 and will share further UCAS acceptance data when it becomes available in January 2021.
Read full response →
HM Treasury
22 Recommendation Eighteenth Report - NHS nursing workfor… Accepted

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 the North East. This is in contrast to large reductions … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government accepts the recommendation to address disparities in nursing student intake, stating it has already implemented the recommendation and provided an outline to the Committee, with further UCAS data to be shared in January 2021.
Read full response →
HM Treasury
23 Conclusion Eighteenth Report - NHS nursing workfor… Accepted

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 degree course compared with 2016 when the NHS bursary was … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government states the underlying recommendation has been implemented, confirming that the department, NHSE&I, and HEE wrote to the Committee on 11 November 2020 and will share further UCAS acceptance data when it becomes available in January 2021.
Read full response →
HM Treasury
24 Conclusion Eighteenth Report - NHS nursing workfor… Accepted

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 tuition fees and the higher education market will therefore still … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government states the underlying recommendation has been implemented, confirming that the department, NHSE&I, and HEE wrote to the Committee on 11 November 2020 and will share further UCAS acceptance data when it becomes available in January 2021.
Read full response →
HM Treasury
25 Recommendation Eighteenth Report - NHS nursing workfor… Accepted

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 degrees. The withdrawal of the NHS bursary applied to students … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government accepts the implied recommendation to address staff stress and burnout, detailing an existing health and wellbeing support package and committing to review and refine this offer, including developing mental health wellbeing hubs in seven regions by Spring 2021.
Read full response →
HM Treasury
26 Conclusion Eighteenth Report - NHS nursing workfor… Accepted

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 rest breaks and annual leave.66 NHSE&I told us that it … Read more

Government response AI summary
The government agrees with the observation, outlining its ongoing comprehensive health and wellbeing support for staff, including a commitment to review and refine national offerings and develop mental health wellbeing hubs in seven regions.
Read full response →
HM Treasury

Oral evidence sessions

1 session
Date Witnesses
20 Jul 2020 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 View ↗

Who gave evidence

5 witnesses
WitnessOrganisationSessions
Lee McDonough · Director General, Net Zero, Nuclear and Internati… Department for Energy Security and Net Zero 1
Mark Radford · Chief Nurse Health Education England 1
Prerana Issar · Chief People Officer NHS England and NHS Improvement 1
Ruth May · Chief Nursing Officer for England NHS England and NHS Improvement 1
Sir Chris Wormald · Permanent Secretary Department of Health and Social Care 1

Correspondence

1 letter
DateDirectionTitle
1 Feb 2021 Correspondence from Sir Chris Wormald, Permanent Secretary, Department of Healt…