Nurse Training Places To Increase By 10% In Wales

An £85m investment is set to increase the number of nurse training places in Wales by 10%, the Welsh Government has announced.

A total of 135 new training positions will be made available in the 2016/17 academic year, bringing the overall total in Wales to 1,418.

The 10% increase is on top of the 22% increase in 2015/16 and means nurse training places in Wales are at their highest level since devolution. The number of people directly employed by NHS Wales now stands at 84,000 since the Assembly was formed in 1999.

In addition, the news comes as Assembly Members pass legislation ensuring hospitals in Wales have sufficient nurses on duty at all times.

The £85m investment package also includes:

– An increase of more than 10% in physiotherapy training places, on top of the 26% increase in 2015-16

– An increase of more than 10% in diagnostic radiography training places, on top of the 26% in 2015-16 and a 5% rise in therapeutic radiographers

– Last year the Welsh Government increased the number of places available for clinical scientists by 52% and this year will be expanding investment in healthcare science programmes, including additional training places in genomics, medical physics, biomedical engineering, molecular pathology, bioinformatics, microbiology and lab genetics

– Investment to support the development of healthcare support workers will increase to £1.5m. This will help people gain the right knowledge and skills to deliver care and support career development

– The package of funding will enable 2,697 new students to undertake education and training programmes in 2016-17 compared to 2,498 in 2015-16. Including those who will be continuing their education this means the total number of students and training places for 2016-17 is 7,384 compared to 6,881 in 2015-16.

Wrexham’s AM Lesley Griffiths has welcomed the decision and hopes the additional funding will alleviate pressures on the future NHS workforce in Wales.

Lesley Griffiths AM said: “The hardworking, dedicated staff are the heart of our NHS and this substantial investment will help develop the next generation of healthcare professionals.”

“In spite of challenging financial circumstances, the Welsh Government has continued to invest in healthcare education and training, and I am pleased Wales values its NHS staff, unlike the Conservative UK Government in England where the ongoing disputes with junior doctors continues to cause unnecessary animosity.”