Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many additional (a) nursing and (b) clinical positions will be funded in the Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire Clinical Commissioning Group as a result of Spending Round 2019.

The Spending Round 2019 did not determine the number of posts at clinical commissioning groups or healthcare providers. Staffing levels are not determined centrally; it is for autonomous NHS employers to determine the workforce numbers required to meet their local NHS service requirements. The National Health Service settlement that was confirmed in January 2019 secured additional funding for clinical commissioning groups to commission the services their populations need. Healthcare providers determine the staffing levels they require in order to provide the services they have been commissioned.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer (Rt. hon. Sajid Javid MP) announced through the Spending Round a £210 million package specifically to support the NHS workforce. This is additional funding investment in training and professional development for our NHS staff. This is part of a wider drive to improve recruitment, retention and staff morale through the development of the first ever NHS People Plan, led by NHS Improvement Chair Dido Harding and NHS Chief People Officer, Prerana Issar.

In January 2019 Government confirmed a £33.9 billion cash terms increase in the NHS budget by 2023/24, compared to 2018/19. This Spending Round reaffirms that commitment, which includes a £6.2 billion increase in NHS funding next year.