Cherilyn Mackrory, MP for Truro and Falmouth, secured a Prime Minister’s Questions question today (11th January) and used the opportunity to urge the government to go further to support the recruitment and retention of healthcare staff in Cornwall.
Cherilyn began by placing on record her thanks to the healthcare staff of Cornwall for all the hard work they are doing during a particularly difficult winter.
Cherilyn raised the unique health challenges in Cornwall, including the year-round demand on health services – creating little respite for its health and social care professionals. Cherilyn also raised how difficult it can be to recruit health staff locally, as the industry competes with hospitality.
Cherilyn asked the Prime Minister whether he is aware of the extra challenges that places like Cornwall face in recruitment in retention.
Responding, the Prime Minister also shared his thanks to health staff for their commitment to their profession. The Prime Minister said:
“Many will benefit this spring from a 10% increase in the National Living Wage, but also, we want to make sure they feel valued with professional development training and career progression. The half a billion investment we are putting into the social care workforce will do exactly that”.