Apprenticeships could target areas with largest nursing gaps
Posted 21 June 2023 - 12:05
Health secretary Steve Barclay says ‘we need to grow our domestic supply’ to cut over-reliance on overseas recruits, and targeted training could be a ‘key part of the workforce plan’
Nursing apprenticeships could be targeted at areas in England that traditionally struggle to recruit health workers, health and social care secretary Steve Barclay has suggested.
The government’s delayed NHS workforce plan is expected to set out how to boost the number of homegrown nurses to help stop the over-reliance on international recruits. Part of this strategy is expected to involve increasing the number of nurses trained via apprenticeships.
‘The more we can grow our own, I think that is hugely desirable’
Speaking at a health and social care select committee meeting on 20 June, Mr Barclay said: ‘There’s a consensus that we need to grow our domestic supply.
‘International recruitment has always been a part of the NHS throughout its history, always has a role to play, and particularly in the short term will continue to have a role to play.
‘But that will, over the longer term, become more competitive to sustain as other countries increasingly compete for the same workforce.’
He added: ‘There’s a lot more we can do around vocational training, so a lot of the trusts that find it difficult to recruit in certain parts of the country, the more we can have apprenticeships, the more we can grow our own, I think that is hugely desirable and should be a key part of the long-term workforce plan.’
Criticism of recruitment from poorer countries
Alongside a boost in apprenticeship training, the government is reportedly looking at shortening nursing degrees by six months in a bid to plug workforce gaps.
There are 43,619 registered nursing posts vacant in England’s NHS, with 124,000 vacant posts in the health service overall.
The government has long been criticised for its over-reliance on overseas nurses, with International Council of Nurses chief executive Howard Catton recently calling for a end to high-income countries such as those in the UK poaching nurses from poorer countries.
The most recent Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) registration data revealed almost half of professionals joining the UK register last year were trained overseas. The NMC also found a 610% increase in international recruits compared with the figure from five years ago.
Government wants end to strikes – but will not re-open pay talks
Recruitment and retention of nurses remains a problem for the government, which has faced historic strike action from nurses over pay and working conditions.
Mr Barclay told the committee that NHS strikes were causing ‘headwind’ in the government’s plans to cut waiting lists. He said he was keen to work with nurses on working conditions and well-being, but again ruled out further discussions on pay.
Members of the RCN are voting on a further six months of industrial action. The ballot closes on 23 June.
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