Firstly, I would like to thank all NHS workers, including those in West Berkshire, for their service in immensely challenging circumstances and am extremely grateful for their dedication in very difficult circumstances over the last three years. Having met many frontline healthcare workers since being elected to Parliament in 2019, I do understand the pressure and the challenge of working in the NHS, especially during the pandemic and now over the winter months. I recently met with local GPs for a roundtable discussion and heard first-hand about the pressures many were under.
Sadly, the challenge of the past few years, and through the current period when the demand for patient care is very high, has taken a significant toll on nurses and I am fully aware that this has amplified existing challenges in the nursing workforce, such as the ability to retain experienced nursing staff to continue working in the NHS.
Whilst I cannot commit to signing the #ReviveTheNHS pledge, I know that the Government is taking steps to address the issues highlighted by the campaign to improve the experience of staff and patients in the NHS.
Mental health support - given the pressures that NHS staff face daily, it is vital that everyone has access to comprehensive mental health support in their workplace. Over the last few years, 40 dedicated support hubs have been established across the country to offer staff access to mental health services. Services can be accessed over the phone with onward referral to online and one-to-one expert help from qualified mental health clinicians, therapists, recovery workers and psychologists.
Energy costs - through the Energy Bill Relief Scheme, hospitals across England will be able to receive support with energy bills this winter, with payments being automatically applied to eligible settings.
Locum cap - while the Government does not support removing the locum cap and providing ringfenced funding for locums in secondary care, I understand that Trusts can override rules on agency staffing on exceptional patient safety grounds. Caps on locum pay rates do not apply in primary care and Integrated Care Systems are able to access up to £120,000 to support their recruitment in general practice.
NHS Pension Scheme - the service of retired and partially returned staff was crucial to the NHS during the pandemic, and the Government has consistently extended the suspension of NHS Pension Scheme restrictions and the temporary amendments to NHS Pension Scheme regulations. Following a recent consultation, these arrangements will now continue until 31 March 2023.
Overseas healthcare workers - the contribution of healthcare professionals from overseas will be crucial to expanding the NHS workforce and improving access to primary and secondary care. Since the Health and Care Visa was introduced in 2020, the Government has expanded the number of occupations to help make it quicker and cheaper for healthcare professionals to work in the NHS. The Government is working to increase the number of GP practices registered as Home Office sponsors so that international medical graduates are able to renew their Visa while living in the UK and qualify for permanent settlement in due course.
Workforce/staffing – a long-term workforce plan has been established by the Chancellor (and former Health Secretary), Jeremy Hunt. This will look at the mix and number of staff required across all parts of the country and will set out the actions and reforms that will be needed to reduce supply gaps and improve retention. The Government has committed to independently verifying this report and publishing it in 2023.
More widely, I would like to reassure you that the Government is committed to health services – this is something that I am proud of and think should be recognised. As an example, the Chancellor recently made a number of spending commitments at the Autumn Statement, making available £8 billion of funding for the NHS and adult social care in England in 2024-25. As part of this, the Government is investing an additional £3.3 billion in 2023-24 and 2024-25 to support the NHS in England. This will enable rapid action to improve emergency, elective and primary care performance. This will happen alongside the introduction of reforms to support the workforce and improve performance across the health system over the longer term.
The Government will also make available up to £4.7 billion in 2024-25 to put the adult social care system in England on a stronger financial footing and improve the quality of and access to care for many of the most vulnerable in our society. This includes £1 billion to directly support discharges from hospital into the community, to support the NHS.
(January 2023)
