Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask Her Majesty's Government which sectors have been consulted as part of (1) the Health Education England's review of long-term strategic trends for the health and social care workforce, and (2) the upcoming NHS England strategy.

In July 2021, the Department commissioned Health Education England (HEE) to with NHS England and NHS Improvement, Skills for Care and stakeholders in the health and social care sectors to develop a long term strategic framework for health and social care workforce planning. Engagement has taken place with senior leaders, frontline staff, the future workforce, academics, think tanks, charities, trade unions, those who receive and care and support and their representatives.

A call for evidence took place in autumn 2021. which elicited 322 responses. Over half of responses were from individuals, which included members of the health and social care workforce, people who need and receive care and support and interested individuals. The remaining responses were received from organisations, including trade unions, charities, professional bodies and Royal Colleges. HEE has held three large-scale events to support the development of the framework, engaging over 200 senior leaders and professionals in the health and social care system, as well as people who need and receive care and their representatives.

The Department has recently commissioned NHS England and NHS Improvement to develop a workforce strategy. Further information on the strategy and its conclusions will be available in due course.