Mr Patsy McGlone (Mid Ulster): To ask the Minister of Health to detail any steps he is taking to reduce levels of work-related stress across the NHS workforce.
Minister of Health: HSC employers currently provide a range of services to support staff health and wellbeing. These include online wellbeing resources and in-person events designed to support healthy bodies and minds and counselling services provided through Employee Assistance Programmes. Psychological support for staff is also provided through HSC Occupational Health Services.
To further support HSC organisations in developing and delivering effective staff health and wellbeing services, my Department published ‘Strengthening our Core: A Regional Framework for HSC Staff Health and Wellbeing in the Workplace’ in September 2024:
This framework, which was developed and shaped through engagement with over 1,000 HSC colleagues, places a strong emphasis on prevention, early intervention, and the creation of healthy working environments.
Significant progress has also been achieved in recent years to stabilise and grow the HSC workforce. Since my Department published the ‘Health and Social Care Workforce Strategy: Delivering for our People’ in 2018, there has been a 20.3% (+11,538 wte) increase in whole time equivalent staff directly employed across the HSC. This includes a 32.3% (+1,356 wte) increase in medical and dental staff, a 23.2% (+3,500 wte) increase in registered nursing and midwifery staff, a 28.0% (+1,193, wte) increase in Allied Health Professionals and a 25.1% (+945 wte) increase in social workers in post now compared to 2018.
ENDS
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