Extra training places for nurses and paramedics in Wales

Almost 400 new nurse training places will be created in Wales, Health Minister Eluned Morgan has announced. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

The Welsh Government has approved Health Education and Improvement Wales’ (HEIW)’s Education and Training Plan 2023-24 for NHS Wales, backed by a £281m investment package. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

The Welsh Government says there has been an 8% increase in the NHS Wales training budget, however the current inflation rate, according to the Bank of England, is 10.7% ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

The plan will support 527 extra training places for a wide range of NHS professionals, from scientists and pharmacists to occupational therapists and physiotherapists, as well as nurses. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

The increase in training places include the following professions: ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

• Adult nurse training places increase from 1,651 to 1,892 – a 14.6% increase.
• Child nurse training places increase from 175 to 192 – a 9.7% increase.
• Mental health nurses training places increase from 410 to 530 – a 29% increase.
• Midwives training places increase from 185 to 190 – up 2.7%.
• Physiotherapist training places increase from 174 to 180 – up 3.4%.
• Occupational therapist training places increase from 179 to 197 – up 10%.
• Paramedics training places increase from 116 to 120 – a 3.4% increase.
• Pharmacy technician training places increase from 30 to 50 – up 66.7%.

Health Minister Eluned Morgan said: “Despite the inflationary pressures on our budget we are committed to investing in the NHS workforce in Wales. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“I am delighted to increase training places once again for nurses and the many other health professions, which are the backbone of our health service. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“A well-trained NHS workforce with the right skills is essential to providing a sustainable high-quality care to people across Wales and improving standards in our health service. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“These additional training places will deliver a workforce which can respond to the challenges of the future. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“The Welsh NHS currently has more people working in it than at any time in its history, focusing on prevention and care across every community.” ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Lisa Llewelyn, Director of Nurse and Health Professional Education at HEIW, said: “This plan has been developed in collaboration with key stakeholders from the NHS in Wales and will support current and future workforce numbers. ‌

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“Building on growth from previous years, the additional education and training places will mean increased numbers of a range of qualified healthcare professionals being available to deliver quality care to our population and work in Wales in a range of roles and locations.” ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Commenting on news that the Welsh Government is to increase training places for nurses and paramedics due to an 8% increase in budget, Welsh Conservative Shadow Health Minister Russell George MS said: “News about more training places for our much-valued nurses and paramedics is always welcome – but these groups are on striking right now, so how much confidence do we have that this would actually attract new entrants? ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“Even if enough people were persuaded to work in the Labour-run NHS – which just recorded the slowest-ever ambulance response times, and Britain’s worst A&E waits and longest treatment waiting list – this is only for the long term and does nothing to address the current challenge which is driving patients and staff to despair.” ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​