Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps he is taking to improve the (a) recruitment and (b) retention of nurses.

Working with universities we are committed to training the staff we need to get patients seen on time, including more nurses, and will work closely with National Health Service trusts and their local education providers to do so and ensure nursing remains an attractive career choice.

Targeted retention work for nurses and midwives is being undertaken by NHS England and led by the Chief Nursing Officer. This includes the introduction of a nursing and midwifery retention self-assessment tool which shares evidence on retention interventions and allows employers to assess their local plans and actions; a national preceptorship framework which provides early career support for nurses and midwives as they transition from education to employment; mentoring schemes; strengthened advice and support on pensions and flexible retirement options; and the publication of menopause policies and guidance.