Matt Hancock, the Health and Social care secretary of state, will launch a major conversation with 3.1 million health and care staff throughout England and give them a voice in the day-to-day creation of policy.

Their voices will be heard following Mr Hancock’s launch of a new digital platform called TalkHealthandCare, which health and care staff can use to post questions and even challenge the government.

The new platform will be continually updated to reflect the views and ideas of staff and will include events, forums and webinars for health and care staff across England.

TalkHealthandCare has been launched after it was revealed staff often didn’t feel valued at work.

Mr Hancock said in a speech held at Southmead Hospital, Bristol: “Millions of hard-working health and care staff turn up to work everyday to meet any challenges tirelessly, with unending compassion. But they don’t just do this for money or other contract benefits.

They do it to improve and save the lives of countless strangers, and in return it’s only right that they are valued, supported and developed. But too often health and care employers, despite the NHS being the world’s fifth largest employed, don’t get this right. It’s time we hear from health and care staff about what they really have to say about the jobs that are at the heart of this country.”

The platform will ask health and care staff to comment on the improvement of shift patterns, just home and work lives, speeding up the use of helpful technologies that cut out paperwork as well as training and development.

“Nobody knows what needs improving more than hard-working staff themselves, so my message is clear: we are listening to you, we want your views and we will use them to ensure the long-term plan for the NHS helps you.”

The platform will be on available in desktop form and a mobile version for phones and tablets. Health and care staff can join the conversation here.