Health Management and Policy Alert

The National Health Service Pension Scheme (Member Contributions) (Amendment) Regulations 2023

Department of Health and Social Care -
This report details the enhanced consultation process which set out proposals to uplift the member contribution tier thresholds in the NHS Pension Scheme in line with the Agenda for Change pay award for England.

• Report
• Department of Health and Social Care - publications

The case for more geriatricians: strengthening the workforce to care for an ageing population

British Geriatrics Society -
This report is intended to start the conversation about the workforce needed to provide high-quality care for the ageing population with increasingly complex needs. It explains why training, recruiting and retaining geriatricians should be a priority, estimates how many geriatricians are needed to provide safe and effective care for older people. It also outlines some of the structural barriers that currently prevent recruitment and concludes with six calls for governments across the UK.

• Report
• British Geriatrics Society - publications

In train?: progress on mental health nurse education

Nuffield Trust - 
This report finds that, despite steps towards closing the gap between mental and physical health services, many people still cannot access services and face long waits for treatment. It concludes that addressing workforce challenges in mental health services will be crucial to improving this situation. The report, commissioned and supported by NHS Confederation’s Mental Health Network, takes stock of progress across the country in staffing the single largest profession within the mental health workforce: nurses.

• Report
• Nuffield Trust - publications

Independent report on the regulation of advanced practice in nursing and midwifery

Nuffield Trust -
Nurses and midwives are increasingly taking on more complex, autonomous and expert roles – commonly referred to as ‘advanced practice’. However, the application of this title and role type varies hugely and this area of practice is not currently regulated in the same way as other professional groups. With expectations and scale of the advanced practice role evolving at pace, the Nursing & Midwifery Council committed to a comprehensive review of advanced nurse practice, commissioning the Nuffield Trust to provide an independent view on the risks and benefits of professionally regulating this area of care.

• Report
• Nuffield Trust - publications

Executive lead roles within integrated care boards

NHS England - 
The commitment was given to Parliament, during consideration of the Health and Care Act 2022, that every integrated care board (ICB) would identify members of its board which would have explicit responsibility for the population groups and functions set out in this guidance: children and young people (aged 0 to 25); children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities; safeguarding (all ages), including looked after children; people with learning disability and autism (all ages); and people with Down syndrome (all ages). These executive leads support the chief executive and the board to ensure that the ICB functions effectively, in relation to the groups mentioned previously. This guidance looks at the responsibilities of the executive lead for each group of people.

• Guidance
• NHS England - publications

International retention toolkit

NHS Employers - 
This toolkit explores actions employers can take to ensure internationally recruited staff build lasting careers in the NHS. The aim is to support the reduction in turnover of international staff by improving their experience at work. It is designed as a one stop shop to provide information, resources and best practice examples on what organisations, systems and regions are already doing to create the conditions for all international staff to thrive. It is based on four pillars: creating strong foundations, making new recruits feel welcome, building belonging, and maximising personal and professional growth.

• Toolkit
• NHS Employers - news

NHS pension scheme: proposed uplift to member contribution thresholds for 2023 to 2024

Department of Health and Social Care - 
This consultation looks at proposed changes to the NHS Pension Scheme Regulations 2015 concerning uplifts to member contributions in 2023 to 2024, in line with the Agenda for Change pay deal. The proposals in this consultation mean that members of the NHS Pension Scheme are less likely to pay higher contribution rates due to pay rises that are in line with the Agenda for Change pay award in England. The closing date for comments is 17 May 2023.

• Consultation
• Department of Health and Social Care - consultations

NHS pension scheme: proposed uplift to member contribution thresholds for 2023 to 2024

Department of Health and Social Care - 
This consultation looks at proposed changes to the NHS Pension Scheme Regulations 2015 concerning uplifts to member contributions in 2023 to 2024, in line with the Agenda for Change pay deal. The proposals in this consultation mean that members of the NHS Pension Scheme are less likely to pay higher contribution rates due to pay rises that are in line with the Agenda for Change pay award in England. The closing date for comments is 17 May 2023.

• Consultation
• Online consultation response form
• Department of Health and Social Care - consultations