Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 24
24
Acknowledged
NHS Long Term Workforce Plan addresses projected shortfall of up to 360,000 staff.
Conclusion
In the workforce plan, NHS England estimates that over a 15-year period, without action, there would be a shortfall of 260,000 to 360,000 staff by 2036–37. NHS England explained that, because it takes time to train people and that they would be completing training over the course of the 15 years, the plan also includes a commitment to retention as well as recruitment.63 NHS England described the rest of the workforce plan as a combination of reform and retention initiatives.64 NHS staff turnover in 2022–23 was about 9%, including some people who were promoted or went to other trusts or roles, and people who left the NHS.65 NHS England said that, over the whole period covered by the workforce plan, it would seek to retain 130,000 staff in the NHS who it would otherwise lose.66
Government Response Summary
The government agrees with the committee's findings, noting NHS England has revised its retention programme and the Exemplar programme shows improved leaver rates, with the Long Term Workforce Plan aiming to significantly reduce overall staff attrition by 2037.
Government Response
Acknowledged
HM Government
Acknowledged
2.1 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Target implementation date: April 2024 2.2 NHS England has revised the scope of the retention programme, in response to the cost of living impacts and the need to maximise workforce capacity during the extremely challenging winter. 2.3 The Exemplar programme was launched in April 2022 and is based on the idea that by delivering the interventions aligned to the People Promise together in one place, at the same time, improved outcomes for staff, organisations and patients will be achieved, as well as optimum staff satisfaction and retention. 2.4 Exemplar organisations’ leaver rates are improving faster than non-Exemplars. All staff leaver rate in Exemplars declined 0.6 percentage points (pp), from 8.9 to 8.3%, compared to 0.3pp in non-Exemplars (9.0 to 8.7%). Nursing leaver rate has declined 0.9pp, from 7.8 to 6.9%, whereas the non-Exemplar group has only decreased by 0.4pp (7.3 to 6.9%). 2.5 The NHS Long Term Workforce Plan considers the challenges facing the workforce over the next 15 years and sets out actions to address them. The collective impact of the Plan’s proposals is projected to help reduce the overall leaver rate for NHS employed staff from 9.1% in 2022 to between 7.4% and 8.2% by 2037. This is equivalent to retaining 55,000–128,000 full-time members of staff.