Rebecca Evans welcomes increase in nurse training places

Rebecca Evans, Welsh Labour's Assembly candidate in Gower, has welcomed an announcement from the Welsh Government that the number of nurse training places will increase by 10% in 2016-17 as part of an £85m investment package in the next generation of healthcare professionals. This comes hot on the heels of a 22% increase in nurse training places in 2015-16.

Rebecca Evans, who as a current regional AM has chaired the Assembly's Cross Party Group on Nursing and Midwifery, said: "Welsh Labour is committed to investing in our NHS in Wales - and this includes investing in our excellent NHS staff.

"This new investment means that we will have the highest level of nurse training places in Wales since devolution; and the number of people directly employed now stands at 84,000 - an increase of a third since the Assembly was established in 1999. 

"Physiotherapy training places will also increase, as will places for both diagnostic and therapeutic radiographers.

"The package of funding will also be good news for existing NHS staff across the Swansea and Gower area as it will fund training opportunities for existing staff to build their skills and develop their careers. It will also ensure opportunities exist for individuals who, for a variety of reasons, have taken a break from their careers.

"Junior Doctors are striking in England and are at loggerheads with the UK Government. We don't see that kind of chaos here in Wales because we value, talk to, and listen to our NHS staff."

Further details of the £85m investment package include:

• An increase of more than 10% in physiotherapy training places, on top of the 26% increase in 2015-16.
• An increase of more than 10% in diagnostic radiography training places, on top of the 26% increase in 2015-16 and a 5% rise in therapeutic radiographers.
• Last year the Welsh Government increased the number of places available for clinical scientists by 52% and this year will be expanding investment in healthcare science programmes, including additional training places in genomics, medical physics, biomedical engineering, molecular pathology, bioinformatics, microbiology and lab genetics
• Investment to support the development of healthcare support workers - an increase to £1.5m. This will help people gain the right knowledge and skills to deliver care and support career development
• The package of funding will enable 2,697 new students to undertake education and training programmes in 2016-17 compared to 2,498 in 2015-16. Including those who will be continuing their education, this means the total number of students and training places for 2016-17 is 7,384 compared to 6,881 in 2015-16.