Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of increasing the number of dieticians working in primary care networks to provide integrated and nutritional care for patients with malnutrition and to prevent malnutrition.

Under the Primary Care Network Direct Enhanced Services, networks are able to recruit new roles to expand their care team with 100% reimbursement through the Additional Roles Reimbursement Scheme. Health and wellbeing coaches and dietitians are both included in the scheme.

Primary Care Networks (PCNs) have recruited over 200 additional health and wellbeing coaches and dieticians since March 2019 and indicate that they are looking to hire more over the next year. We are supporting PCNs to hire and have made funding available to them to provide them with additional support to do so. National support for Health and Wellbeing Coaches is provided by the Supported Self-Management team. This offer includes access to peer support through an online discussion and information network and monthly share and learn sessions.