Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what recent assessment he has made of the effect of pressures within the NHS on the welfare and mental health of NHS staff.

It is a priority for this Government to support the welfare and mental health of all National Health Service staff as they continue to work in challenging circumstances.

The NHS People Plan and People Promise set out a comprehensive range of actions to strengthen health and wellbeing, equality and diversity, culture and leadership and increase opportunities for flexible working. NHS England is supporting a range of health and wellbeing initiatives, including a wellbeing guardian role to support boards and leaders in prioritising healthy working environments, empowering line managers to hold meaningful conversations with staff to discuss their wellbeing, and a comprehensive emotional and psychological health and wellbeing support package.

NHS staff can access NHS Practitioner Health, a national support service for staff with more complex mental health needs brough about by serious issues such as trauma or addiction.