Health Professions: Mental Health

(asked on 1st September 2023) - View Source

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether he has made a recent assessment of the potential merits of introducing mandatory psychological assessments for medical staff working in (a) high-stress and (b) sensitive NHS departments.


Answered by
Will Quince Portrait
Will Quince
This question was answered on 8th September 2023

No specific assessment has been made. All National Health Service employers have a duty to ensure the health, safety and well-being of all their workforce.

At a national level, NHS England has developed a range of health and wellbeing initiatives to promote staff wellbeing. This includes a wellbeing guardian role to scrutinise local support, a focus on healthy working environments, tools, and guidance for line managers to support them to hold meaningful conversations with staff to discuss their wellbeing, and a comprehensive emotional and psychological health and wellbeing support package.

NHS doctors can 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.

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