In a move to address staffing shortages and reduce waiting lists, the UK government plans to cut medical degrees from five years to four. With Brexit providing an opportunity to change training rules previously imposed by the EU, the government aims to increase the number of doctors and nurses in the NHS. The first NHS Long-Term Workforce Plan, supported by £2.4 billion of government funding, outlines ambitious targets of 60,000 additional doctors, 170,000 more nurses, and 71,000 allied health professionals by 2036/37.
The plan includes doubling medical school training places to 15,000 by 2031, increasing GP training places by half to 6,000 by 2031, and nearly doubling the number of adult nurse training places. The NHS also aims to implement apprenticeship programs that offer both a full degree and on-the-job training, as well as expand training for clinical psychology and child and adolescent psychotherapy. In addition, the plan focuses on staff retention by providing better career development opportunities, flexible working, and pension reforms.
To achieve these targets, the NHS is considering introducing four-year medical degrees, although graduates would still need to undergo two years of foundation training in hospitals. The General Medical Council supports the idea, provided patient safety is not compromised. The NHS also plans to reduce dependency on expensive agency staff and save taxpayers £10 billion between 2030 and 2037.
Amanda Pritchard, CEO of NHS England, sees this plan as a unique opportunity to improve staffing and patient care. By training more staff domestically, increasing apprenticeships, and embracing technology, the NHS aims to meet the growing demand for healthcare workers and ensure a sustainable future for the service.
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