Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

Mental Health Support for NHS Staff

Tuesday 23 April 2024 · 2 questions

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

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • The NHS workforce plan commits to supporting staff health and wellbeing, with integrated care systems developing specific plans for staff support.
  • NHS England is conducting a review to improve mental health services for all staff.
  • The people plan outlines actions to foster a modern, compassionate culture within the NHS.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Rosena Allin-Khan Lab Tooting
NHS Mental Health
Context

The question arises from the concern over the mental health of NHS staff who face extreme pressures and challenging conditions, leading to significant numbers taking sick leave due to mental health issues.

Question

What assessment has been made of the adequacy of mental health support for NHS staff? Given the stressful nature of their work, such as battling for a child's life or informing families about a loved one not surviving the night, and considering that 6.4 million mental health sick days were taken by NHS staff last year, will the Minister commit to funding the NHS practitioner health service beyond the next 12 months?

Answer from Andrew Stephenson

The long-term workforce plan commits the NHS to supporting staff health and wellbeing, with integrated care systems developing plans for support. NHS England is reviewing mental health services for all staff. The people plan sets out actions for a modern, compassionate culture including better health and wellbeing support availability. While I understand the importance of this issue, we review services annually and cannot commit now to funding beyond the current year.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Commitment to fund NHS practitioner health service beyond the next 12 months

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Q2 Rosena Allin-Khan Lab Tooting
NHS Mental Health
Context

The question stems from concerns about the mental health of NHS staff who have been under immense pressure, especially during the pandemic, leading to high levels of sick leave. There is a worry that the government will not provide sufficient funding to sustain critical mental health services.

Question

Fighting to save a dying child's life, telling families that their loved one will not make it through the night, and working desperately in substandard conditions—it will come as little shock to hear that all that takes a toll. Last year, 6.4 million mental health sick days were taken across the NHS. Instead of receiving support, our NHS heroes have a Tory Government who treat them with disdain and kick them to the kerb. Will the Minister commit to funding the NHS practitioner health service beyond the next 12 months, or will the Government just try to shut it down again?

Answer from Andrew Stephenson

As an NHS community first responder who served on the frontline during the pandemic, I know the mental toll that working for or volunteering with the NHS can take. The people plan includes actions to build a compassionate culture and improve health and wellbeing support availability. We review services annually but cannot commit now to funding beyond this year while reviews are ongoing.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Commitment to fund NHS practitioner health service beyond the next 12 months

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