The United Kingdom Health Minister's reforms to increase nurse training places and retain staff include a 25% increase in training posts for nurses and improvements to working conditions. The government will fund clinical placements for an additional 5,170 pre-registration nurse degrees from 2018, building on its commitment to 10,000 more training places for nurses, midwives and allied health professionals. An additional 5,000 nursing associates will be trained through the apprentice route in 2018, with another 7,500 being trained in 2019. Nursing associate provides a work-based route into nursing for existing healthcare staff or new recruits who may not be able to study full-time at university. The government will also offer a shortened nurse degree apprenticeship route. The Health Secretary also unveiled measures to improve working conditions, including:
- Arrangements to support flexible working to help staff to balance work-life commitment;
- A system of staff banks for flexible workers across the NHS, increasing opportunities for NHS staff to work on NHS terms and reduce agency costs for employers; and
- A 'Homes for Nurses' scheme - which will give 3,000 NHS workers first refusal on affordable housing generated through the sale of surplus NHS land.