How does the NHS workforce plan build confidence in a challenged system?

Abstract

This article reviews the long-term impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on NHS staff and how these effects relate to the expectations and ambitions of the NHS workforce plan. Findings highlight the need to recognise that the health and wellbeing of existing staff is critical to the attraction of new staff. Acknowledging what staff were exposed to during the pandemic and how they have responded remains important, as does ensuring that there is a sufficient plan for recovery. The offer of health and wellbeing interventions should continue, even if staff need to leave their role in order to come to terms with the pandemic, as this may give them confidence to return to the NHS in future. Educational roles underpin the NHS workforce plan, so care and attention needs to be given to how these staff members are looked after. Finally, it must be recognised that the technological challenges that NHS leaders want to address require innovation and energy that are not naturally present following a global emergency. Recovery must be made a priority if the ambitions of the workforce plan are to be met.