University of Southampton co-ordinated response to:
NHS 10 Year Workforce Plan - Call for Evidence

Executive Summary

The University of Southampton’s submission, co-ordinated by Dr. Nat Easton, presents clear evidence on how the NHS can build a sustainable and effective workforce over the next decade. The response highlights that investment in registered nurse staffing consistently improves patient outcomes and reduces sickness absence, while heavy reliance on temporary staff increases mortality risk and weakens team cohesion. Research from Southampton also shows that assumptions about productivity gains from technology or changes in skill mix are often overstated. Electronic records and remote monitoring do not reliably reduce workload, and increasing the proportion of support staff cannot replace the clinical judgement and flexibility of registered nurses. The authors argue that long-term workforce planning must be based on realistic evidence rather than short-term targets or untested expectations about digital innovation.

The response outlines several priorities for achieving the aims of the NHS 10 Year Health Plan. These include strengthening domestic workforce supply, improving recruitment and retention through fair and transparent rostering, and expanding high-quality placement capacity in community, mental health, and learning disability settings. The submission emphasises that digital tools such as predictive staffing algorithms and scheduling systems can support better deployment and reduce fatigue, but they must sit alongside sustained investment in permanent staff. The authors conclude that a stable registered nurse workforce, grounded in fair working conditions and supported by carefully evaluated digital systems, is essential for delivering safe and person-centred care across both hospital and community settings.

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