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Plan to train more doctors more quickly in England Plan to train and retain more NHS doctors and nurses
(about 3 hours later)
Medical degrees could be shortened by a year and there will be thousands more university places for medical students, in a major plan to boost the NHS workforce in England. More doctors and nurses will be trained and thousands of new roles will be created to work alongside them, as part of a major NHS England workforce plan.
The plan, which has been delayed for more than a year, has been called "historic" by NHS leaders. University places for medical students will double, a new apprenticeship scheme for doctors is planned and medical degrees could be shortened.
But Health Secretary Steve Barclay admitted patients would not see some of the benefits for several years. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said the delayed workforce plan was "historic" and had taken time to get right.
Critics say poor working conditions in the NHS could undermine the plan.Critics say poor working conditions in the NHS could undermine the plan.
There are more than 110,000 vacancies in the workforce at present, with one out of every 10 posts unfilled, which creates huge pressure on staff and affects the care patients receive.
The NHS has been beset by strikes this year, and the dispute with doctors is still continuing.The NHS has been beset by strikes this year, and the dispute with doctors is still continuing.
Pay does not feature in the plan - instead, it focuses on increasing training places for medical and nursing students and a new apprenticeship scheme for doctors. Pay for staff does not feature in the plan - instead, it focuses on increasing training places for medical and nursing students and a new scheme that allows trainee doctors to earn while they learn.
A consultation on whether five-year medical degrees could be shortened by a year will also be launched.A consultation on whether five-year medical degrees could be shortened by a year will also be launched.
NHS staff sickness hits record high in EnglandNHS staff sickness hits record high in England
NHS in England facing worst staffing crisis, MPs warnNHS in England facing worst staffing crisis, MPs warn
Unveiling full details of the 15-year plan on Friday at Downing Street, Mr Sunak said it would "deliver the biggest ever expansion in the number of doctors and nurses that we train, and a plan to reform the NHS so we deliver better care in a changing world".
But he said overcoming the challenges of an overstretched workforce "won't be quick or easy".
"We're making the tough calls, and doing things differently, to protect the long-term future of the NHS and this country," Mr Sunak said.
NHS England chief executive Amanda Pritchard said plan gave "a once-in-a-generation opportunity to put staffing on a sustainable footing for years to come".
Currently, half of new doctors and nurses have to be recruited from abroad as the UK supply route has struggled to keep up with demand.Currently, half of new doctors and nurses have to be recruited from abroad as the UK supply route has struggled to keep up with demand.
One out of every 10 posts remains unfilled - more than 110,000 vacancies. Without action, NHS vacancies could rise to 360,000 by 2037, modelling for the plan suggests.
And without action, this could rise to 360,000 by 2037, modelling for the plan suggests.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and NHS England chief executive Amanda Pritchard will officially unveil the plan on Friday.
To help achieve the goals, the government has promised £2.4bn over the next five years.To help achieve the goals, the government has promised £2.4bn over the next five years.
Ms Pritchard called it a "historic" moment for the NHS.
"It gives us a once-in-a-generation opportunity to put staffing on a sustainable footing for years to come," she added.
Mr Sunak called it "one of the most significant commitments" he would make as prime minister.Mr Sunak called it "one of the most significant commitments" he would make as prime minister.
The targets for 2031 include:The targets for 2031 include:
doubling medical school places for student doctors, to 15,000 a year doubling medical school places for student doctors to 15,000 a year
a 50% increase in GP trainee places for junior doctorsa 50% increase in GP trainee places for junior doctors
24,000 more nurse and midwife student places a year - close to double the number now24,000 more nurse and midwife student places a year - close to double the number now
doubling training places for nursing associates to more than 10,000 by 2031
increasing training places for physician associates to 10,000 by 2036
The role of nursing associate bridges the gap between healthcare assistant and nurse, while physician associates help doctors to diagnose and manage patients. They can work in GP surgeries or hospitals.
The new roles will mean more qualified staff can focus on spending time with their patients.
There is also a boost in training places for other roles, including pharmacists, psychologists and dental therapists.
In the next five years, the proportion of NHS staff, including physios, podiatrists and maternity staff, trained through apprenticeships - combining paid work with study and no tuition fees - will double, to one out of every six.In the next five years, the proportion of NHS staff, including physios, podiatrists and maternity staff, trained through apprenticeships - combining paid work with study and no tuition fees - will double, to one out of every six.
And next year, an apprenticeship for doctors will launch, with a few hundred places.And next year, an apprenticeship for doctors will launch, with a few hundred places.
NHS England medical director Stephen Powis told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that making the plan a reality is "doable", but would be "challenging" for the entire health system. Speaking to BBC Radio 4's Today programme on Friday, Mr Barclay said senior NHS leaders had told him the plan "gives hope to the system" in the long term.
Pressed on whether he had confidence it would be backed financially by the government, he said it contained a "clear ambition over 15 years, laying out exactly what the NHS will need" beyond the initial £2.4bn.
Speaking to the same programme, Mr Barclay said senior NHS leaders had told him the plan "gives hope to the system" in the long-term.
He said patients will not see some of the benefits for several years, but added that reforms and measures to improve staff retention "will come through quite quickly".He said patients will not see some of the benefits for several years, but added that reforms and measures to improve staff retention "will come through quite quickly".
Gemma Peffers' role bridges the gap between healthcare assistant and nurseGemma Peffers' role bridges the gap between healthcare assistant and nurse
Gemma Peffers is one of thousands of people to have already started a nursing apprenticeship - in 2016, aged 30, at Royal Derby Hospital.Gemma Peffers is one of thousands of people to have already started a nursing apprenticeship - in 2016, aged 30, at Royal Derby Hospital.
"I left school not knowing what to do," she says. "I had lots of different jobs.""I left school not knowing what to do," she says. "I had lots of different jobs."
Ms Peffers has now qualified as a nursing associate - a role that bridges the gap between healthcare assistant and nurse. Ms Peffers has now qualified as a nursing associate and her next step will be to start two years of training to become a nurse.
Her next step will be to start two years of training to become a nurse.
Learning on the job has been really beneficial, Ms Peffers says.Learning on the job has been really beneficial, Ms Peffers says.
"We are learning the ethos of the NHS and getting to know how our patients want to be looked after," she says."We are learning the ethos of the NHS and getting to know how our patients want to be looked after," she says.
And earning while she learns is important too.And earning while she learns is important too.
"I've got children and a house to run," Ms Peffers says. "The security is really important and has enabled me to pursue a career in the NHS." "I've got children and a house to run," says Ms Peffers. "The security is really important and has enabled me to pursue a career in the NHS."
Being welcomedBeing welcomed
There will also be a major drive on retention - including more flexible-working options and career development to provide clear routes to senior jobs. Last year, more than 40,000 nurses left the NHS.There will also be a major drive on retention - including more flexible-working options and career development to provide clear routes to senior jobs. Last year, more than 40,000 nurses left the NHS.
The plan is being welcomed by many in the health service.The plan is being welcomed by many in the health service.
Matthew Taylor, of the NHS Confederation, which represents health trusts, called it "bold and ambitious".Matthew Taylor, of the NHS Confederation, which represents health trusts, called it "bold and ambitious".
The same commitment was now needed for the social care workforce, he added.The same commitment was now needed for the social care workforce, he added.
Others have pointed out the drive to increase training places could be undermined by the lack of placements on the front line - half of a nurse student's degree is spent working in the NHS. Others have pointed out the drive to increase training places could be undermined by the lack of placements on the front line - half of a student nurse's degree is spent working in the NHS.
It will also take years before this expansion starts to have an impact on current shortages - it takes five years to complete a medical degree and three a nurse degree. It will also take years before this expansion starts to have an impact on current shortages - it takes five years to complete a medical degree and three a nursing degree.
Is it enough?Is it enough?
There are challenges making sure the expansion of training places are successful. The first one is making sure there are enough people interested in pursuing a career in health care. There are challenges making sure the expansion of training places is successful. The first one is making sure there are enough people interested in pursuing a career in healthcare.
That is less of a problem for doctors - medical degrees are heavily over-subscribed. That is less of a problem for doctors - medical degrees are heavily oversubscribed.
But the number of applications for nursing degrees is falling - with universities saying the cost of living crisis is putting people off.But the number of applications for nursing degrees is falling - with universities saying the cost of living crisis is putting people off.
However, perhaps the biggest challenge of all is ensuring existing staff are retained - nurses are leaving the NHS almost as quickly as new ones are joining.However, perhaps the biggest challenge of all is ensuring existing staff are retained - nurses are leaving the NHS almost as quickly as new ones are joining.
There has been very little detail so far about how this will be addressed - and of course pay is not part of this plan and that is a key factor in keeping staff. There has been very little detail so far about how this will be addressed - and of course pay is not part of this plan, and that is a key factor in keeping staff.
Pay awards going forward will be determined by two things - the size of the NHS budget and what is happening with inflation. Pay awards going forwards will be determined by two things - the size of the NHS budget and what is happening with inflation.
It is why the £2.4bn committed to boost training in this plan over the next five years is being welcomed, but on its own will not determine its success.It is why the £2.4bn committed to boost training in this plan over the next five years is being welcomed, but on its own will not determine its success.
'Dismal reality''Dismal reality'
Dr Billy Palmer, of the Nuffield Trust think tank, said while it was good to see the plan published, there had been "years of drift".Dr Billy Palmer, of the Nuffield Trust think tank, said while it was good to see the plan published, there had been "years of drift".
And he warned the "dismal reality" of working in the NHS at the moment could undermine the push to tackle shortages in the long term.And he warned the "dismal reality" of working in the NHS at the moment could undermine the push to tackle shortages in the long term.
"There is a risk that we will feed more and more people into training only to burn them out ever faster," Dr Palmer said. "There is a risk that we will feed more and more people into training, only to burn them out ever faster," Dr Palmer said.
Speaking to the BBC, shadow health secretary Wes Streeting said "congratulations to the government for listening to Labour", claiming that ministers had "nicked" the opposition's plan.Speaking to the BBC, shadow health secretary Wes Streeting said "congratulations to the government for listening to Labour", claiming that ministers had "nicked" the opposition's plan.
He continued: "There is a reason why the NHS is understaffed, and it's the lack of a workforce plan for the last 13 years."He continued: "There is a reason why the NHS is understaffed, and it's the lack of a workforce plan for the last 13 years."
Are you training to join the NHS workforce through an apprenticeship? Share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.Are you training to join the NHS workforce through an apprenticeship? Share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.
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