Health Services: Manpower

Mr. Lansley
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what steps he plans to take to increase the (a) number and (b) skills level of public health workers as proposed in “A High Quality Workforce: NHS Next Stage Review.”

Ann Keen
In order to ensure that the actions we are setting in train to deliver the numbers and skills required in the public health workforce are aligned and coherent with our system policies, we have commissioned an internal review. This will examine the effectiveness of existing policies and initiatives in place across the Department and will provide an informed assessment of the capacity requirements and skills gaps of the public health delivery system.

The team supporting this review is now in place and has commenced work, engaging across the Department and with key external stakeholders. The timetable they are working to will result in the publication of findings late in the year, to inform planning cycles for the public health delivery systems.