Thread by @RCPhysicians

Parliament is today debating the amendment tabled by @Jeremy_Hunt - supported by cross-party MPs, @RCPhysicians & 60+ health and care orgs - which would mean Gov would have to publish independently verified assessments of current & future workforce numbers every 2 yrs 🧵#NHSBill

@Jeremy_Hunt Shadow Workforce Minister @justinmadders speaking to amendment now - says sector is united on amendment, and can't find anyone who thinks what gov has put forward as the solution in Clause 34 is good enough

Lib Dem MP @munirawilson says in 2019/20, some £6bn was spent on bank and agency staff. Adds long-term planning to recruit the right skills is 'absolutely critical'

@munirawilson We will support the amendment, says @justinmadders and quotes @CommonsHealth report 'there is no accurate, public projection of what health &
social care require in the workforce for nxt 5-10 yrs... without that level of detail, shortages in health & care workforce will endure'

Hunt begins his speech - 'it takes a long time to train a doctor or a nurse'. Says gov has recognised pressures on NHS by giving additional £, but adds 'extra money without extra workforce will not in the end solve the problems that we want to solve'

The amendment will lead to more doctors, nurses and professionals being trained, says @Jeremy_Hunt - but says that will save the NHS money

@Jeremy_Hunt It's not only about meeting the needs of the NHS workforce, says @GregClarkMP - we need to have extra people who can be the 'brilliant researchers and discoverers of new medicines' in future

Amendment 10 is supported by a large number of organisations and 6 select cttee chairs, says @Jeremy_Hunt wrapping up his speech. Says "every month that we delay putting in place this structure is a month where we fail to give hope to NHS staff".

@Jeremy_Hunt SNP spokesperson for health @Dr_PhilippaW speaks to Amendment 10. "Workforce challenge is single biggest challenge facing all 4 national health services across the UK" she says

@Jeremy_Hunt @Dr_PhilippaW Labour MP @MGreenwoodWW cites the support of @RCPhysicians & @RCPCHtweets for amendment to strengthen Clause 34 of the Health and Care Bill. Conservative MP Andrew Mitchell also rises to support amendment 10, saying the 'whole sector' is united behind this amdnt #NHSBill

@Jeremy_Hunt @Dr_PhilippaW @MGreenwoodWW @RCPCHtweets Several more MPs speak in favour of Amendment 10, including @APPGC chair @ToniaAntoniazzi and Conservative MP @RichardGrahamUK:

@Jeremy_Hunt @Dr_PhilippaW @MGreenwoodWW @RCPCHtweets @APPGC @ToniaAntoniazzi @RichardGrahamUK 'There comes a time when you have to say and vote for what you believe in', says @RichardGrahamUK, confirming he will vote for Amendment 10 to strengthen workforce planning

Conservative MP @paulbristow79, member of @CommonsHealth, now rises to support Amendment 10. Says we need a 'laser like focus' on workforce challenges

@paulbristow79 @CommonsHealth .@sarahjolney1 & @DerekThomasUK speak to Amendment 10. In response to the speeches given across the House, the Minister says 'the workforce is the beating heart of our NHS' and pays tribute to the workforce. Refers to announcement from yesterday on @NHS_HealthEdEng & Framework 15

@paulbristow79 @CommonsHealth @sarahjolney1 @DerekThomasUK @NHS_HealthEdEng Amendment 10 is put to a vote in the House of Commons. #NHSBill

@paulbristow79 @CommonsHealth @sarahjolney1 @DerekThomasUK @NHS_HealthEdEng Read our briefing on this amendment which sets out more detail about the refresh of 'Framework 15' > rcp.ac.uk/guidelines-pol…

The Commons vote against Amendment 10 to require published assessments of current and future workforce numbers 280 to 219.

"We are deeply disappointed," says RCP president @bodgoddard.

See our full statement here: rcplondon.ac.uk/news/rcp-respo…