15 July 2021
Speaking in the Commons yesterday, Savid Javid MP, Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, said:
"I have commissioned Health Education England to refresh its strategic framework for health and social care workforce planning. HEE will work in partnership across the sector and gather views from the widest possible range of stakeholders to help us to shape a workforce with the right skills, the right knowledge and the right values for the year ahead."
In response, Dr Adrian James, President of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, said:
"The ambition of the NHS Long Term Plan to expand mental health services cannot be achieved without increasing the mental health workforce, including the number of consultant psychiatrists. We have been calling for a long-term comprehensive workforce strategy, so we welcome the news that the Secretary of State has commissioned Health Education England to refresh their strategy in partnership with stakeholders.
"Although progress has been made in growing the psychiatric workforce, the pandemic has been an unfortunate reminder of how much further we still have to go. Demand for mental health services has increased significantly and so the need for more psychiatrists has never been greater.
"We look forward to working in partnership with Health Education England to inform their strategy and help ensure a long-term vision for training and retaining the mental health workforce."
For further information, please contact:
- Email: press@rcpsych.ac.uk
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