Is the NHS heading for a mental health staffing crisis?
Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) Ministers have revealed NHS mental health services in England are losing 2,000 staff a month, in an answer to an MP’s questions.
The Labour MP for Dewsbury Paula Sherriff questioned the DHSC about mental health staffing issues, including staff, resignations, vacancies and training. She received written answers from health minister Jackie Doyle-Price.
Some 23,686 mental health staff left the NHS in 2017/18, and the sector has 187,215 whole-time staff but needs 209,233.
Ms Sherriff’s questions also revealed that the DHSC’s programme to recruit 21,000 extra mental health staff by 2021, which was launched in July 2017, has so far increased the workforce by 915.
Further information
Gov.uk: DHSC
They Work For You: Mental health services: resignations
They Work For You: Mental health services: staff
They Work For You: Mental health services: training
They Work For You: Mental health services: vacancies
The Guardian: NHS mental health crisis worsens as 2,000 staff quit per month
Website: Health Education England
Website: NHS England