Up to 47,000 extra nurses will be available to NHS by 2020, predicts HEE

Almost 47,000 extra nurses are expected to be available for employment in the NHS by 2020, according to plans unveiled by Health Education England (HEE).

HEE’s commissioning and investment plan for 2016/17, which sets out areas of education and training identified as priority for investment, projects that 80,000 additional healthcare staff will be available to the NHS by 2020.

There are currently 316,292 whole-time equivalent (WTE) nurses and midwives in post in England, according to HEE figures. However, HEE forecasts supply to be at 363,243 WTE in 2020, representing an increase of 14.8% on 2015 figures.

The forecast increase is expected to apply to all areas of nursing, including mental health and children’s nursing, as well as midwifery.

More than 108,000 undergraduate nursing and midwifery training commissions as well as more than 6,000 postgraduate specialist commissions will have been placed with universities between 2012 and 2016, which HEE estimates will produce 84,000 WTE nurses and midwives for NHS employment.

HEE expects the new supply to replace the 37,000 WTE staff who are retiring, which leaves supply boosted by almost 47,000 extra WTE nurses and midwives.

The forecasted growth in supply is partly attributed to the increase in nurse training commissions in 2014/2015. HEE chief executive Ian Cumming said HEE’s imminent plans will focus on these ‘priority areas’ of investment, adding: ‘We are training significantly more people to work in every healthcare profession than we anticipate retiring or leaving between now and 2020.’

To read the HEE commissioning and investment plan – 2016/17 click here