Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 22
22
Rejected
This report is the Committee’s second on NHS backlogs, the first being published in March...
Conclusion
This report is the Committee’s second on NHS backlogs, the first being published in March 2022. We stated then that “the NHS will be less able to deal with backlogs if it does not address longstanding workforce issues”.44 For this inquiry we received evidence from five medical Royal Colleges. The submissions from the Royal Colleges of Nursing, Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, Ophthalmologists, Radiologists, and Surgeons all highlighted the ongoing absence of sufficient strategic workforce planning.45 The Autumn Statement 2022 confirmed that a workforce plan, with quantified workforce projections, would be produced by the Department in 2023: “the government is publishing a comprehensive NHS workforce plan, including independently verified workforce forecasts, next year. This will include measures to make the best use of training to get doctors, nurses and allied health professionals into the workforce, increase workforce productivity and retention.”46 This is a welcome and long overdue step. 39 C&AG’s Report, paras 9, 2.7 40 Q71 41 Q72 42 Q 73 43 C&AG’s Report, para 2.12, Figure 7 44 Committee of Public Accounts, NHS backlogs and waiting times in England, Forty-Fourth Report of Session 2021–22, HC 747, 16 March 2022 45 NHS0002, NHS0015, NHS0019, NHS0021, NHS0026 46 Autumn Statement 2022, para 5.59 14 Managing NHS backlogs and waiting times in England
Government Response Summary
The government disagrees with the Committee’s recommendation, but states all aspects of NHS performance, and their impact for delivery, are kept under continued review by the department and NHS England.
Government Response
Rejected
HM Government
Rejected
6.1 The government disagrees with the Committee’s recommendation. 6.2 NHS England acknowledged in the Delivery Plan for tackling the COVID-19 backlog of elective care the key role that workforce will play in achieving these targets, and committed to increasing workforce capacity by identifying and addressing gaps across key staff groups and sectors. Since publication, the department has further committed to publishing the NHS long term workforce plan this year. The department has also provided additional support for discharge, including the £500 million Adult Social Care Discharge Fund. 6.3 All aspects of NHS performance, and their impact for delivery, are kept under continued review by the department and NHS England. Any conclusions from the long-term workforce plan or the work to improve discharge will be reflected, as necessary, in operational planning guidance and/or the department’s mandate to NHS England in the usual way.