Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 8
8
Accepted
Short-term funding and lack of long-term plan hinder mental health workforce development
Conclusion
The National Audit Office (NAO) reported that funding settlements for workforce education and training have been short-term and the timing and levels of agreed funding have not always aligned with the pipeline levels the NHS estimated it needed for mental health. For the longer term, NHSE emphasised the importance of continued funding for training pipelines as current funding arrangements will end by 2023–24. We have also expressed concern about the absence of a long term workforce plan and tensions about funding. NHSE finally published the plan on 30 June 2023.12 The plan sets out overall ambitions for the NHS to secure the staff it needs over the next 15 years, by increasing training pipelines, improving staff retention, and reforming the way staff work and train. It also estimates that mental health and learning disability services will see the highest growth in demand, and notes specific challenges in developing the required mental health workforce, including a higher than average shortfall of mental health nurses 6 Qq 46,79,91; C&AG’s Report, para 13 and Figure 16 7 Qq 79–82; C&AG’s Report, para 13 8 Qq 36, 52,182 ; C&AG’s Report, paras 2.2, 3.17 9 Qq 40, 177; C&AG’s Report, para 3.6 and Figure 14; PMS0006, page 7; PMS0011, page 5; PMS0008, pages 2–3 10 Qq 177–179 11 Qq 82, 85–87, 122, 146, 154; C&AG’s Report, para 3.4 12 Qq 96, 135, 156, 167; C&AG’s Report, para 3.5; NHS England, NHS Long Term Workforce Plan, June 2023 10 Progress in improving NHS mental health services without additional interventions.13 We also raised concerns about the lack of clarity in roles and responsibilities following the merger of NHSE and Health Education England. The Department assured us that there will be continued transparency about funding for education and training following the merger.14 Data and information
Government Response Summary
The government agrees with the committee's observations, pointing to the recently published NHS Long Term Workforce Plan (June 2023) which addresses workforce challenges, sets growth targets for mental health, and outlines actions for improved retention and productivity. NHS England will provide a progress update in January 2024.
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
1.1 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Target implementation date: January 2024 1.2 The NHS Long Term Workforce Plan, published on 30 June 2023, considers the challenges facing the NHS workforce over the next 15 years, including mental health, and sets out the steps needed to address this, including: actions and reforms to close supply shortfalls, improve retention, increase workforce productivity, and develop a modern and inclusive employment culture. 1.3 The plan sets out a need to ensure the growth of the overall mental health and learning disability workforce is the fastest of all care settings – 4.4% per year to 2036-37 – to meet increasing demand and drive parity of esteem between physical and mental health. NHS England will continue to develop and refresh the modelling approach and plan, and publish a refreshed projection every two years (or aligned to fiscal events as appropriate). This process will be supported by ongoing engagement with stakeholders. NHS England will work closely with regions, systems, providers and wider partners to drive forward the implementation of the Long-Term Workforce Plan. 1.4 The National Mental Health programme continues to create new roles, develop a national campaign to promote careers in mental health, develop NHS Talking Therapies workforce development and retention guidance, and develop enhanced use of digital technologies to help improve the productivity of and increase access to mental health services. 1.5 NHS England will provide an update on progress in January 2024 as part of its joint letter with DHSC to the Committee.