Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 16
16
The Department told us that it planned to meet the commitment to deliver 50,000 more...
Conclusion
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 how many nurses they expect from each of these different routes. HEE told us that its plans are dynamic and changing in the light of the COVID-19 outbreak, for example, to reflect an increase in the number of people applying for nursing degrees.40 NHSE&I expects to publish details of the numbers of nurses it needs with the second part of the People Plan, after the publication of the Spending Review.41
Government Response
Not Addressed
HM Government
Not Addressed
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 which will be achieved through increased domestic recruitment (including undergraduates, postgraduates, reduced attrition, blended degrees, apprenticeships and nursing associate conversions to registered nurses), increased international recruitment and improved retention. 3.3 The latest UCAS (Universities and Colleges Admissions Service) data show a 23% increase in placed applicants to nursing and midwifery courses when compared to last year, meaning the department is likely to see more domestically trained nurses complete training in 2023. In contrast, international recruitment has been disrupted, in the short term, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. 3.4 The department has responded to these changes by adapting the programme to flex across workstreams, to ensure the maximum supply and the best value for money. The department will publish plans as soon as practicable, taking account of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the programme. 3.5 On national pay, a three-year pay and contract reform deal was agreed in 2018 for all Agenda for Change staff increasing the starting salary for newly qualified nurses by over 12%. Outside of multi-year deals the department plan to rely on the independent NHS Pay Review Body. Pay Review Bodies consider evidence provided by multiple stakeholders including NHS trade unions, system partners and government. In making recommendations, Review Bodies consider affordability and what is needed to recruit, retain and motivate the workforce.