Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 30
30
Rejected
No specific funding for staff retention, relying on other factors
Conclusion
NHS England confirmed that there is no specific funding for staff retention but said that it would be cost neutral. However, there are dependencies on several other factors that are important for retention. Staff wellbeing was outside the purview of the workforce plan and other measures, such as pension changes, were not costed as part of the plan but were instead tax changes costed by the Treasury.86 NHS England added that, if the plan is successful, so that retention levels increase, the NHS is less reliant on international recruitment, uses fewer agency staff, and works in the reformed way the plan sets out, there would be savings as well as costs.87
Government Response Summary
The government explicitly disagrees with the committee's finding/implied recommendation regarding staff retention funding, highlighting its £2.4 billion commitment for training and deferring future funding estimates to 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.