Health and Social Care Committee inquiry: Workforce recruitment, training and retention in health and social care

Our evidence for the Health and Social Care Committee inquiry on Workforce recruitment, training and retention in health and social care. 

The NHS and social care need long-term, national plans, made up of coordinated action from central government to address the challenges around recruitment, training and retaining staff, and sustainable workforce growth. While action can be taken around pay, trainee numbers and GP distribution, the Health and Care Bill offers an opportunity to ensure that England has robust, independent projections of the health and social care staff that are needed to support better workforce planning.  

Our evidence focuses on several aspects of health and social care workforce: 

• Analysis on the migrant workforce and the impact of changes in international recruitment  

• Factors leading to staff leaving the workforce and the opportunities to address this, including the impact of pay on recruitment and retention, and non-pay drivers of retention 

• Specific analysis of recruitment and retention problems in nursing, GP and social care workforce 

• Priorities to address gaps in the NHS People Plan 

• Proposals for ensuring the Health and Care Bill 2021–22 can address workforce issues

The Committee’s report was published on 25 July 2022.