Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, pursuant to the Answer of 24 February 2021 to Question 153166 on NHS and Social Services: Staff, what his Department's workforce priorities are for NHS and social care staff.

The Government is committed to expanding the National Health Service workforce and we are on track to deliver 50,000 more nurses by the end of this Parliament. The health and wellbeing of NHS staff is also a priority, as reflected in the NHS People Plan. The Plan sets out practical support for wellbeing including more comprehensive occupational and mental health support for staff.

The Government is committed to the sustainable improvement of the adult social care system and will bring forward proposals for reform later in 2021. Our objectives for reform are to enable the highest standards of care and support the workforce to achieve their full potential through developing the skills of all staff working in the sector. We are working closely with local and national partners to ensure our approach to reform is informed by diverse perspectives, including of those with lived experience of the care sector.