Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the finding of the Royal College of Physicians’ 2021 census on the proportion of advertised consultant posts in England and Wales that went unfilled in 2021, what recent assessment he has made of the adequacy of the size of the NHS workforce relative to patient demand.

No specific assessment has been made. However, the Department has commissioned Health Education England (HEE) to review long term strategic trends for the health and regulated social care workforce to ensure the appropriate skills and behaviours are available to deliver high standards of care.

In addition, the Department has commissioned NHS England to develop a long term plan for the workforce, including assessments of supply and demand. The outcomes of this plan will be available in due course. We are also considering workforce implications within forthcoming strategies, including cancer, maternity and mental health services.