Gareth Davies MP has today backed the newly released long-term NHS Workforce Plan which will see record numbers of doctors, nurses, dentists, and other healthcare staff be trained across England.
Coming ahead of the health service’s 75th anniversary, the NHS Workforce Plan sets out how the NHS will address existing vacancies and meet the challenges of a growing and ageing population through training, retaining, and reforming.
Firstly, this plan will lead to the largest ever expansion in domestic education and training places, significantly increasing the number of training places across the NHS workforce.
By 2031, there will be double the number of medical school training places, with more places in areas of the country with the greatest shortages, an increase in the number of GP training places by 50%, 24,000 more nurse and midwife training places a year, and 40% dental training places.
Secondly, a renewed focus on retention should mean that up to 130,000 staff stay working in NHS settings for longer. This will be supported through modernising the NHS pension scheme, supporting continued professional development, and greater occupational health and childcare services.
Finally, this plan reforms how our NHS works by expanding the training of new roles and increasing the number of degree-level apprenticeships and streamlined routes, growing the number of staff in advanced roles, and making better use of new technologies including artificial intelligence and remote monitoring to free up clinical time.
