Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, how many redundancies are planned as a result of the restructure of NHS Digital; and where those staff affected by the Org2 redesign are located.

Due to the need to reduce the size of the organisation and change the skills and capability of its workforce, NHS Digital’s restructuring is planned to be delivered in a series of ‘waves’ and is due to be completed by 2020/21. Wave one is currently in progress.

At this stage, NHS Digital estimates that a net overall reduction in headcount of circa 500 full time equivalents is expected. A programme of staff engagement and discussions with staff representatives is in place.

All staff will be affected by the restructuring and will be required to apply for posts in the new organisation structure. Staff are currently located in NHS Digital’s offices in London, Leeds, Southport, Exeter, Southampton, Washington and Redditch.

NHS Digital is working to ensure that it provides every facility to help staff secure suitable alternate employment. A professional outplacement service has been secured to work with displaced staff and NHS Digital is seeking opportunities with other public and private sector employers in the areas affected.