Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether his Department has received representations on therapeutic radiographers and the forthcoming workforce implementation plan; and if he will make a statement.

The hon. Member for Westmorland and Lonsdale (Tim Farron) raised the issue of therapeutic radiographers during a debate on cancer workforce and early diagnosis on 8 January 2019, Official Report, columns 43WH-44WH.

Health Education England published its first ever Cancer Workforce Plan in December 2017 which commits to the expansion of capacity and skills including an ambition to increase improved working practices, attracting qualified people back to the National Health Service through domestic and international recruitment.

Following publication of the NHS Long Term Plan in January 2019, my Rt. hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care has commissioned Baroness Dido Harding, working closely with Sir David Behan, to lead a number of programmes to engage with key NHS interests to develop a detailed workforce implementation plan. These programmes will consider detailed proposals to grow the workforce rapidly, including therapeutic radiographers, consider additional staff and skills required, build a supportive working culture in the NHS and ensure first rate leadership for NHS staff.