Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Nursing Workforce: Recruitment and Retention

Tuesday 1 November 2022 · 3 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 1 Partly answered 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Minister reports receiving representations on nursing workforce recruitment and retention.
  • Minister commits to growing and supporting the NHS workforce and developing a long-term plan.
  • Minister acknowledges efforts to reduce waiting times for tests, results, and treatment.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Kenny MacAskill
NHS
Context

The nursing workforce faces significant challenges in recruitment and retention, affecting healthcare services across the UK.

Question

What recent representations has he received on recruitment and retention of the nursing workforce?

Answer from Will Quince

We are on target to meet the 50,000 nurses manifesto commitment, with nursing numbers more than 29,000 higher in August this year than they were in September 2019 and more than 9,100 higher than in August last year. We are working across a range of delivery partners to invest in and diversify our training pipeline, conduct ethical international recruitment, improve retention and support return to practice.

Answered
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Q2 Kenny MacAskill
NHS
Context

Cancer services are facing significant barriers due to workforce shortages, impacting waiting lists and patient outcomes.

Question

Will the Minister ensure that the long-term workforce plan being developed by NHS England gives consideration to the plans being prepared by NHS Scotland to minimise duplication and try to ensure the best possible patient outcomes in both countries?

Answer from Will Quince

I thank the hon. Gentleman for his question. We remain absolutely committed to growing and supporting our vital NHS workforce. In addition to the work already in place to continue growing the workforce, we have, as he mentioned, commissioned NHS England to develop a long-term plan for the workforce, looking at the next 15 years. It is important that we do that in tandem and I will have conversations—I think later this week—with my counterpart in the Scottish Government.

Partly answered

Not addressed: specific consideration of NHS Scotland's plans in the long-term workforce plan

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Q3 Chloe Smith Con
NHS
Context

There are significant challenges with cancer waiting times in the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

Question

Will the Minister support the trust to reduce waiting times for my constituents for tests, results and treatment?

Answer from Will Quince

I thank my right hon. Friend for her question and I look forward to visiting Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital as soon as possible. She rightly raises cancer referrals. Cancer referrals from GPs are now at 127% of pre-pandemic levels. Cancer treatment levels are at over 107% of pre-pandemic levels, with nine out of 10 people starting treatment within a month. However, as she rightly points out, there is variance across the country and, where trusts have more challenging statistics, we need to address them.

Partly answered

Not addressed: specific commitment on supporting reduced waiting times in Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

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