Hunt NHS workforce amendment defeated

An amendment calling for regular independent NHS workforce projections in England has been defeated in Commons.

Tabled by the former health secretary Jeremy Hunt, the amendment to the health and care bill proposed that the government would be made to publish NHS workforce training estimates every other year.

The amendment was defeated by 61 votes (219 ayes, 280 noes).

Speaking ahead of the vote this morning, the chair of the health and social care committee said: “We have got 93,000 vacancies across the NHS and shortages across every single major specialty”.

Richard Murray, Chief Executive of The King’s Fund, said the workforce shortages “continues to be a blind spot for the government.

“Despite pledges, promises and manifesto commitments there is still no plan to address workforce shortages, and there is no certainty about the budgets for staff education and training.”