Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 28
28
Rejected
Long-term funding for the NHS workforce plan remains undefined beyond five years
Conclusion
We pressed both the Department and NHS England on how the workforce plan would be paid for.80 NHS England stated that the current government’s commitment has been to fully fund the first five years of the plan.81 In future periods, there would be decisions for the then government to take about the total size of the NHS budget which would need to take account of the consequences for the plan, but these would be decisions for forthcoming spending reviews.82 The Department confirmed that NHS budgets beyond the current spending review were political decisions for the future and that the plan, although extending beyond the current funding period, makes no reference to the cost after the first five years.83
Government Response Summary
The government explicitly disagrees with the committee's finding/implied recommendation regarding the long-term funding of the workforce plan, reiterating its £2.4 billion commitment for the first five years and stating future funding estimates will be part of the next Spending Review.
Government Response
Rejected
HM Government
Rejected
6.1 The government disagrees with the Committee’s recommendation. 6.2 In support of the NHS Long Term Workforce Plan, the government has committed £2.4 billion to fund education and training costs up to 2028-29. NHS England will submit its estimate to the government of the full cost of the NHS from 2025-26 onwards, which will include the financial implications of the NHS Long Term Workforce Plan, as part of the next Spending Review process. The outcome of the Spending Review process and what that expenditure covers will be published by HM Treasury in the usual manner.