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NHS Workforce Expansion
28 February 2023
Lead MP
Wes Streeting
Debate Type
General Debate
Tags
NHSEducationTaxationEmployment
Other Contributors: 29
At a Glance
Wes Streeting raised concerns about nhs workforce expansion in the House of Commons. Other MPs contributed to the debate.
How the Debate Unfolded
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said:
Lead Contributor
Opened the debate
The Labour party has introduced a motion to address the crisis in the NHS workforce, which currently faces shortages of over 9,000 hospital doctors and 47,000 nurses. Labour's plan includes doubling medical school places annually to train 15,000 doctors per year, expanding nursing training placements by 10,000 each year for new nurses and midwives, doubling district nurse qualifications annually, and increasing health visitor training by an additional 5,000 positions. The funding source would be the abolition of non-domiciled tax status to support these initiatives aimed at retaining staff and significantly expanding NHS workforce numbers.
Edward Leigh
Con
Gainsborough
Questioned Labour's plan, suggesting they could learn from Europe’s social insurance systems for better outcomes in healthcare.
Catherine West
Lab
Hornsey and Friern Barnet
Emphasised the urgent need to address recruitment issues beyond funding. Highlighted a local example of 800 patients daily at an A&E with severe staff shortages, despite having adequate budgets.
Yasmin Qureshi
Lab
Bolton South and Walkden
Noted that the NHS spent £1.3 billion on agency staff last year which could have been used to hire full-time permanent staff, stressing the importance of proper staffing for patient care.
Luke Evans
Con
Hinckley and Bosworth
Asked about the ratio of medical students during ward rounds in proposed expansion plans, indicating concerns over quality training amid an expanded student body.
Suggested a scheme similar to the airline industry where overseas-trained doctors might have to work in the UK for a certain period or repay costs as a way to retain talent, implying current issues with staff retention and international poaching.
Jim Shannon
DUP
Strangford
Highlighted the issue of recruitment from overseas, particularly Australia's poaching of junior doctors for better conditions. Agreed that a concerted effort to retain domestic staff is crucial alongside workforce expansion.
Alex Sobel
Lab Co-op
Leeds Central and Headingley
Illustrated the issue with agency staff, noting personal experience of mistreatment compared to local authority-run recovery hubs offering better treatment. Advocates for more support for such facilities.
Grahame Morris
Lab
Easington
Called for a detailed plan addressing cancer workforce shortages, citing missed targets and delayed specialist appointments, emphasising the urgent need to integrate recruitment and retention strategies into national policy.
Southgate and Wood Green
Cited Macmillan Cancer Support research indicating all national cancer targets were missed in at least one month, underscoring the urgency for an NHS workforce plan to improve service delivery.
Tim Farron
Lib Dem
Westmorland and Lonsdale
Highlighted radiotherapy workforce shortages impacting treatment availability, noting high vacancy rates compared to new graduates entering the field. Emphasised the importance of addressing such issues for effective cancer care.
Catherine West
Lab
Hornsey and Friern Barnet
Noted a significant decline in public approval ratings for the NHS from 80% to under 50%, attributing it to staffing shortages and poor service delivery, underscoring the need for radical change.
Chi Onwurah
Lab
Newcastle upon Tyne Central and West
Stressed that without adequate support for workforce planning, innovation and technological advancements in healthcare will be stifled, potentially hindering future NHS efficiency and effectiveness.
Afzal Khan
Lab
Manchester Rusholme
Addressed mental health service shortcomings, noting the economic burden of untreated mental illness (£100 billion annually), and its impact on policing and overall societal well-being, calling for urgent attention.
Helen Whately
Con
Faversham and Mid Kent
The Government have increased the number of doctors and nurses in England since 2010, with significant improvements across various medical roles. They emphasise international recruitment alongside domestic training to meet staffing needs. The NHS's greatest asset is its workforce, who need to be cared for and valued to provide high-quality patient care.
The figures used by the Opposition in their motion do not present a full picture of the NHS workforce. They often overlook vacancies filled by bank staff, especially from within the same hospital. This contributes to understating the actual number of healthcare professionals available.
Karin Smyth
Lab
Bristol South
The Government shelved their social care plans despite promises about securing social care for older people and those with disabilities. Labour is keen on seeing progress in this area, questioning when the Government will actually deliver on these plans.
Chi Onwurah
Lab
Newcastle upon Tyne Central and West
The Minister should consider abolishing the non-dom tax loophole to fund more nurses and doctors for a better NHS. This is in line with their duty to look at every available option, as mentioned during interventions.
Wes Streeting
Lab
Ilford North
There is no specific position provided in the text from Wes Streeting, but he asked for an intervention regarding the Government's social care plans and their impact on health service funding.
Grahame Morris
Lab
Easington
The Minister should invest in precision radiotherapy to improve patient outcomes cost-effectively. This would be more sensible given the increasing incidence of cancer, ensuring better value for taxpayer money. Additionally, Labour’s spending plans are not unfunded as claimed by the Government.
Central Ayrshire
Expressed gratitude to health and care staff for their work during the pandemic. Criticised Tory austerity policies, noting a significant reduction in NHS funding growth since 2010. Emphasised Scotland's higher per capita spending on healthcare compared to England, including free prescriptions and social care services. Highlighted workforce shortages and issues related to Brexit and post-pandemic challenges. Advocated for better support for staff through fair pay, training opportunities, and addressing pension-related issues.
Wes Streeting
Lab
Ilford North
Interjected to question the effectiveness of GPs in Scotland under SNP governance, implying a reduction in GP numbers.
Karin Smyth
Lab
Bristol South
Called for collaboration among different Governments to learn from each other's approaches and focus on outcomes rather than inputs. Suggested that the debate should move beyond criticism of differences between nations towards a more constructive dialogue.
Roger Gale
Con
Herne Bay and Sandwich
The Conservative Member expressed concern about time allocation for the debate, criticised the SNP Front Benchers' lack of substantial contributions, pointed out discrepancies in waiting times data, and highlighted the Labour Government's poor management of NHS resources prior to 2010.
Bell disagreed with several points raised by the Scottish National Party (SNP) Front Benchers, criticised Welsh Labour MPs for not participating in the debate, and emphasised that the current Government is addressing NHS challenges more effectively than previous ones. He also addressed questions regarding hospital closures and IT wastage under past governments.
Andrew Western
Lab
Stretford and Urmston
Western supported a motion criticising the state of the NHS, citing workforce shortages, long waiting times, and lack of government action to address these issues. He highlighted specific cases in his constituency where patients faced severe delays in receiving treatment.
Ben Bradley
Con
Hemsworth
Mr Bradley thanked his hon. Friend for mentioning PFI and highlighted the financial burden on hospitals due to Labour's PFI deal, emphasising the need for a realistic plan rather than rhetoric. He noted that there are 37,000 more doctors and 45,000 more nurses in NHS compared to before, and praised Government action like nursing bursaries which have led to an increase in the number of people studying nursing courses by 25%. Mr Bradley stressed that care services need to be integrated better with NHS as they do not share data or processes adequately. He also pointed out the unrealistic public expectations from the NHS and suggested a conversation about limiting free healthcare to basic services. Finally, he proposed reforms such as changing prescription policies for common medications like paracetamol and improving the 111 service.
Daisy Cooper
Lib Dem
St Albans
The Liberal Democrats support the motion for its focus on recruiting NHS staff and training more district nurses and health visitors. GP appointments are increasingly difficult to secure, with some patients resorting to DIY doctoring due to lack of access. The dental contract crisis has created a two-tier system between rich and poor, impacting children’s life chances. Children's access to dentists is limited, with 8 in 10 NHS practices not taking on new children. There is also a collapse in social care, with 165,000 vacancies increasing by 55,000 in the past year. The Liberal Democrats propose a carers’ minimum wage of £2 per hour more than the current rate to support over 80% female care workers.
Karin Smyth
Lab
Bristol South
Smyth discusses her career in NHS management, criticising current challenges faced by managers. She highlights specific public health issues in Bristol such as cervical screening coverage and breast cancer rates being higher than average, advocating for better collaboration between local government and the NHS.
Mick Whitley
Lab
Whitley expresses solidarity with striking junior doctors and nurses. He warns the Health Secretary about the implications of negotiating only with a single union and urges him to invite all unions for discussions. Whitley reflects on how much has changed since Labour left power, noting that under Conservative leadership, the NHS is in poor state compared to 2010 when it was praised for its efficiency.
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