Recover, reward, renew: A post-pandemic plan for the healthcare workforce

Article

One year since the Covid-19 pandemic took hold, the political narrative has become one of recovery, for the health system as much as for the economy. But what does 'build back better' really mean for an exhausted and over-stretched healthcare workforce?

This paper aims to resolve the tension between ‘building back better’ health and care services and immediate workforce constraints. It argues that the government should develop a plan to support staff who are struggling, retain those considering leaving and attract new people to join the sector.

It proposes developing an effective,immediate-term workforce strategy based around the principles of Recover, Reward and Renew, and it draws on new IPPR/YouGov polling of 1,006 healthcare professionals to inform a range of practical policies that IPPR recommends, and to underscore the urgency of tackling the workforce crisis now.


Related items

  1. Doctor with patient for consultation, medical advice or procedure at clinic

    Taken to heart: Inequalities in heart disease in Scotland

    More than 7.6 million people across the UK live with cardiovascular disease (CVD), around twice as many as live with Alzheimer’s disease and cancer combined. 
  2. A beautiful sunset in the Scottish highlands with renewable energy wind turbines far into the horizon

    Skills passports: An essential part of a fair transition

    This month, government will publish its Clean Energy Workforce Strategy. This plan covers two aims. First, filling the growing demand for skills in clean energy industries is essential to keep on track to reach the government’s clean power…
  3. The Bank of England is watched over by a statue of the Duke of Wellington seated on his horse

    Fixing the leak: How to end the £22 billion annual taxpayer losses at the Bank of England

    The Bank of England increased its interest rates over recent years, aimed at reducing inflation. But this has also had an unintended effect on the Bank of England’s massive government bond buying – ‘quantitative easing’ – programme.