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Rise in nurse numbers shows Wales 'moving in the right direction' – RCN

Report showing nurse, midwife and health visitor numbers rose 1.3% in a year are welcomed by RCN Wales.
Tina Donnelly

The RCN has welcomed figures that show a 1.3% rise in the numbers of nurses, midwives and health visitors in Wales in the past year.


Tina Donnelly is calling for a boost in nurse training places  Photo: Jay Williams

The number of full-time-equivalent nursing, midwifery and heath visitor roles was 22,479 in 2016 – up 286 on 2015.

RCN Wales director Tina Donnelly said the figures were a ‘move in the right direction’ but called on the government to boost training places to meet growing demand.

Numbers and skills mix

She said: ‘While we are extremely supportive and glad to be working with the Welsh Government to increase nursing numbers, we need to ensure safe patient care.

‘This is dependent on the right number of healthcare professionals and nurses with the right skills to deliver appropriate levels of care.’

The workforce statistics for nursing are part of the wider NHS Wales staff figure of 76,288, up 3.2% since 2015.

'Committed to the NHS'

Health secretary Vaughan Gething said: ‘The record numbers of staff we’re seeing in our NHS in Wales is clearly good news and demonstrates the strength of our commitment to the NHS.

‘We recently announced a significant package to support for a range of education and training programmes for healthcare professionals in Wales.’

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