Closing the gap: key areas for action on the health and care workforce (2019)

Summary

Staffing is the make-or-break issue for the NHS in England. This joint produced report sets out a series of policy actions that should be at the heart of the workforce implementation plan.

Content

Key points:

• Staffing is the make-or-break issue for the NHS in England. Workforce shortages are already having a direct impact on patient care and staff experience.
• Urgent action is now required to avoid a vicious cycle of growing shortages and declining quality. The workforce implementation plan to be published later this year presents a pivotal opportunity to do this.
• This report sets out a series of policy actions that, evidence suggests, should be at the heart of the workforce implementation plan.
• They will require investment of an extra £900 million per year by 2023/24 into the budget of Health Education England.
• Recognising the close interrelationship between the NHS and social care, the report also recommends a series of policy changes to improve recruitment and retention in social care.