Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to Exercise Cygnus that took place in 2016, whether an assessment was made of the potential effect of a pandemic on the mental health of (a) health and (b) care workers.

Whilst the scope of Exercise Cygnus did not cover the effect of a pandemic on the mental health of health and social care workers specifically, staff wellbeing is a core part of United Kingdom pandemic preparedness planning. This includes strengthening the health and social care sector to surge and flex beyond normal operations, as demonstrated by the considerable increase in capacity and capabilities to respond to the current COVID-19 pandemic.

The wellbeing of health and social care staff has been central to the COVID-19 response, and the Government has implemented several measures to support staff, including a dedicated helpline and free access to several wellbeing apps for National Health Service and social care workers, and a CARE app which provides advice and wellbeing support to social care staff.