Health professional educators demand improvements from next Welsh Government

Martin Shipton

The body that represents all nine of the Welsh universities that educate health professionals has written to every major political party contesting the Senedd election with a list of demands aimed at securing improvements.

The Council of Deans of Health represents the UK’s strategic academic leaders in healthcare

education and research. Its membership comprises over 100 university and further education

faculties across every region and nation of the UK. They deliver the overwhelming

majority of British-educated nurses, midwives and allied health professionals, the future workforce of the NHS.

At any one time they will be educating around 200,000 current and future health professionals and will carry out research that improves the population’s health and wellbeing.

Representing the nine universities that educate and train Wales’ nurses, midwives and allied

health professionals – Aberystwyth, Bangor, Cardiff Met, Cardiff, Swansea, University of South Wales, Wrexham, University of Wales Trinity St David and the Open University – the Council is calling for clear commitments from party leaders and ministers to address the mounting pressures facing health education and research.

2025 was a crisis year for Welsh universities, with finances hit by a reduction in international student numbers and hence the lucrative fees they are required to pay. A number imposed painful cuts. Initial proposals from Cardiff University would have involved the closure of its Nursing school. Eventually it was reprieved following a strong campaign led by the University and College Union.

There have also been concerns about a lack of jobs for those qualifying at the end of their courses.

Priorities

The Council’s letter states: “Our vision is that governments in the UK are committed to quality education and research and a sustainable healthcare academic workforce, in order to safeguard and improve the health and wellbeing of the public.

“The Council’s priorities for the 2026 Senedd election:

1. Develop a competitive funding model for healthcare education. Welsh universities are facing acute financial pressures that threaten the viability of healthcare programmes essential to the NHS. Health and care students also struggle financially, with the rising cost of living, and limited ability to work during their placements. The NHS Wales bursary is inadequate compared to other student finance schemes. More competitive financial support is therefore essential to attract and retain students.

2. Strengthen student recruitment, retention and workforce planning. Wales’ future healthcare workforce is at risk without urgent action to boost student recruitment and retention. We strongly support innovative routes into healthcare. Exploring models like degree apprenticeships in health and social care further widen access to higher education and strengthen the workforce pipeline. Graduate employability is also a growing concern, potentially deterring future applicants. Wales must stay competitive by supporting graduates into roles within the Welsh NHS.

3. Prioritise academic careers and Welsh language development. Funding pressures have significantly reduced the size of the academic workforce within Wales’ universities, creating a critical risk to future capacity. We urge the government to work proactively with universities and NHS partners to implement long-term solutions including the development of clear and attractive career frameworks for healthcare educators, with progression routes and recognition of clinical expertise. There is also a shortage of Welsh-speaking academics, confident in teaching and assessment. Targeted investment in Welsh language development and support is necessary.

4. Enhance placement experiences. We are deeply concerned about the current pressures in Welsh hospitals, especially the reports of corridor care highlighted by the Royal College of Nursing. These conditions not only raise patient safety issues but also impact students on placement, risking inadequate supervision, demoralisation, and increased attrition. Our members are keen to explore innovative placement models to diversify and improve student experiences. Parties must commit to protect the safety and wellbeing of patients and students across healthcare. We stand ready to work collaboratively with all parties to deliver an NHS workforce fit for the future, strengthen Wales’ research base, and ensure opportunities for every learner.”