The Labour government has committed to developing a new long-term workforce plan for the NHS that will be published next summer, it has been revealed.
Deputy chief public health nurse for England Professor Jamie Waterall said the new plan – which would replace that published by the Conservatives last year – will be informed by health professionals via a consultation.
Professor Waterall was speaking at the School and Public Health Nurses Association (SAPHNA) conference on Wednesday when he suggested the current workforce plan ‘does not got far enough’ when it comes to public health.
‘I don’t know if colleagues are aware, but government is now committed to developing a new long-term workforce plan,’ he said.
‘So, into the summer next year there will be a new workforce plan.’
After several delays, the previous Conservative government released its NHS Long Term Workforce Plan in June 2023 – committing to boosting GP trainee numbers by 50%.
It outlined ambitions to expand training places for health visitors by 74% by 2030/31, and also pledged to grow training places for school nurses by 28%.
But Professor Waterall said the ‘current plan doesn’t go far enough – from the public health perspective’.
While it made commitments around the number of training places, he said it ‘doesn’t take that kind of broader perspective’.
‘So, here’s our opportunity, because government has signalled very clearly that they want a new workforce plan,’ he said.
Professor Waterall encouraged nurses to ‘use your voice’ in a consultation on the plan – though it is not clear when this will launch.
‘We’ve got now till the summer to be influencing that,’ he said.
NHS England and the Department of Health and Social Care have been contacted for comment.
A version of this story was first published on our sister title Nursing in Practice.
