In a bid to alleviate the severe staff shortages in the NHS in England, more than 300,000 additional nurses, doctors, and other health workers are expected to be employed in the coming years through radical plans aimed at improving staffing in the health service. These plans include cutting the length of time doctors spend in medical school, increasing the number of home-grown NHS staff, and expanding apprenticeship opportunities.
Hailed as a “once-in-a-generation opportunity,” the NHS has developed its first-ever long-term workforce plan, envisioning a sustainable staffing foundation for the next 15 years. Without intervention, the health service warned that there could be a staggering 360,000 vacancies by 2037.
Health leaders, who have provided a glimpse of the plan without releasing the full document, believe that this strategy will address the challenges posed by a growing and ageing population while tackling recruitment and retention issues that have led to severe staff shortages. Currently, there are 112,000 vacancies across the NHS in England.
According to officials, along with new retention measures, the proposed plans could result in an additional 60,000 doctors, 170,000 nurses, and 71,000 allied health professionals in the NHS by 2036/37. To achieve this, the NHS aims to double medical school training places to 15,000 by 2031, increase GP training places by 50% to 6,000 by 2031, and nearly double the number of adult nurse training places by 2031.
Furthermore, the plan emphasizes the expansion of apprenticeships, allowing students to “earn while they learn.” It is estimated that by 2028, 16% of all training for clinical staff, including doctors and nurses, will be offered through degree apprenticeships, including 850 doctor apprenticeships. Nurse associate training places are also expected to increase by 40% over five years.
To bolster the numbers of home-grown NHS staff, the plan outlines the establishment of new medical schools in regions experiencing the most significant staffing shortages.
In addition to the workforce plan, a report by Members of Parliament (MPs) highlighted the need for digital transformation in the NHS. The report stated that outdated IT systems hindered progress in modernizing the health service and emphasized the importance of technology and innovation in sustaining the NHS in the future.
The NHS also aims to reduce spending on expensive agency staff, with health leaders directed to cut the bill by £10 billion by 2036/37. Measures such as allowing nurses to start working immediately after graduation in May, instead of September as currently practiced, have also been proposed.
The plan places renewed focus on retention, offering more flexible working options and improved career development. Reforms to pension schemes and other initiatives are expected to encourage up to 130,000 staff to continue working in NHS settings for an extended period.
The government has committed £2.4 billion to fund additional education and training places over the next five years, alongside existing funding commitments.
The workforce plan, which will be regularly revised every two years to adapt to changing needs, has been widely supported and is seen as a significant step in ensuring a sustainable workforce for the NHS. The expansion of education and training opportunities, along with reforms and investments, aims to enhance patient care, reduce waiting lists, and modernize the healthcare system.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak emphasised the government’s commitment to the NHS, stating that this expansion and reform plan represents the largest investment in NHS education and training in history.
While some opposition members have accused the government of adopting ideas from their party, others expressed concerns about the timing and urgency of these plans.
