Health and social care workforce Workforce shortages are the biggest challenge facing the NHS and social care in England. This issue has been exacerbated by the pandemic, which has exposed the dangers of running a system with significant shortages. The Health Foundation’s REAL Centre puts into context the scale of the workforce challenge, using independent evidence and research to support better long-term decision making.

This page showcases our analysis of the issues impacting the health and care workforce. It will be regularly updated as new research is published, including our forthcoming landmark report exploring projections of NHS workforce demand and supply over the next decade.