Paramedic Science course “paused” at Wrexham University amid job shortages
Wrexham University’s Paramedic Science programme will not take on new students for the 2026-27 academic year, after Health Education and Improvement Wales (HEIW) paused commissioning of the course across Wales.
The decision – taken in agreement with Welsh Government and the Welsh Ambulance Services University NHS Trust (WAST) – also affects the equivalent course at Swansea University, and comes less than three weeks after newly qualified paramedics in Wales were reportedly told to apply for jobs abroad amid a WAST hiring freeze.
The organisation said the decision aims to “improve employment opportunities for current and future graduates and better align workforce supply with demand.”
In a statement issued on 20 April 2026, HEIW said student places for 2026 graduates had been determined back in 2022, during the immediate post-pandemic period when workforce demand was “significantly higher.”
Since then, the body said, changes to service delivery, including a new clinical model introduced by WAST – along with improved staff retention and wider financial pressures had reduced the number of roles available for newly qualified paramedics.
WAST, the main employer of paramedics in Wales, has confirmed recruitment will be “extremely limited” this year, a position HEIW said reflected a wider UK trend.
HEIW said: “HEIW recognises this is an uncertain time for students and graduates. Pausing new student intake is considered the most responsible step to reduce competition for vacancies over the next few years, and support current and upcoming graduates into employment.
“HEIW and WAST are working closely to identify potential employment opportunities in ambulance services and across wider health and care settings. Some graduates might still secure paramedic roles, but this may take time.
“In addition, support is also being developed for recent graduates to maintain clinical skills and competence, access continuing professional development, and explore potential alternative career pathways.
“This will help ensure when paramedic vacancies become available, recent graduates will be able to move into them.
The announcement has drawn sharp criticism from Plaid Cymru, with Carrie Harper, the party’s lead candidate in the Fflint Wrecsam Senedd constituency , calling the situation “a disgrace” and “an embodiment of Labour’s failure” on the NHS.
Ms Harper said: “This is a disgrace, not only that there won’t be jobs for training paramedics, but that courses are now being stopped in train much needed paramedics for the future.
“It’s an embodiment of Labour’s failure when it comes to our NHS, proving once again that they’ve had no vision for its future, no workforce plan, and no joined up thinking to link healthcare staffing needs with training courses. Students are being failed, the NHS is being failed, and patients are being failed.”
She added that a Plaid Cymru government would “develop and strengthen the NHS workforce” through a new national workforce strategy, “strategically aligning the provision of courses with the staffing demands of health boards.”
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