Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what her planned timetable is for the publication of the long-term NHS workforce plan; and whether that plan will be underpinned by multi-year funding.

The Department has commissioned NHS England to develop a long-term workforce plan. The plan will consider the number of staff and the roles required and will set out the actions and reforms needed to improve workforce supply and retention, following the NHS People Plan. The plan is due for completion by the end of 2022 and its conclusions will be available in due course.

It will be used to inform how to meet the future needs of patients and the National Health Service workforce. Funding plans beyond the current Spending Review period will be subject to the outcome of future Spending Reviews.