Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to support intensive care unit workers (a) with their mental health and (b) generally.

It is a priority for the Government to support the health and wellbeing of all National Health Service staff.

NHS planning guidance for 2023/24 emphasises the need to support staff, asking systems to refresh their workforce plans to improve staff experience and retention through a systematic focus on all elements of the NHS People Promise.

NHS England have developed a range of health and wellbeing initiatives which include a wellbeing guardian role, a focus on healthy working environments, empowering line managers to hold meaningful conversations with staff to discuss their wellbeing, and a comprehensive emotional and psychological health and wellbeing support package.

NHS staff can also access NHS Practitioner Health, a national support service for staff with more complex mental health needs brought about by serious issues such as trauma or addiction.

The NHS Long Term Workforce Plan, published on 30 June 2023, sets out how we will improve culture, leadership, wellbeing and staff retention over the next 15 years. The plan focuses on implementing actions from the NHS People Plan, improving flexible working opportunities and supporting the health and wellbeing of the NHS workforce.