Universities UK leaders say they ‘welcome’ Labour’s pledge to invest in more nursing and medical places at universities.
During the Labour Party conference last week a pledge was made to produce a long-term workforce plan for the NHS for the next five, 10 and 15 years, including making more nursing and doctors uni places.
Nursing Labour pledge
In a speech at the conference shadow chancellor, Rachel Reeves said the party is pledging to create an additional 10,000 nursing and midwifery clinical placements and double the number of district nurses qualifying in England every year.
Alongside this Labour promised to train 5,000 more health visitors over a five-year period and to produce a long-term workforce plan for the NHS for the next five, 10 and 15 years.
Reeves said: ‘The next Labour government will double the number of district nurses qualifying every year. We will train more than 5,000 new health visitors. We will create an additional 10,000 nursing and midwife placements every year.’
The shadow chancellor also said the party would “implement the biggest expansion of medical school places in British history, doubling the number of medical students so our NHS has doctors it needs”.
Reeves said this is what Labour would do if they get into power and bring back the 45% income tax bracket.
Universities UK ‘welcomes’ pledge
Responding to the pledge made by Labour Shadow Chancellor Rachel Reeves on funding increased nursing and medical places, Universities UK they “welcome” this pledge and they “would be happy to work” with the party to make it happen.
UUK said: ‘We welcome this significant commitment from the Labour Party to invest in the next generation of doctors and nurses. Universities have been calling for additional funding to support the expansion in medical and nursing places needed for the NHS and the future health of the nation.
‘This expansion in student numbers would need investment in infrastructure, teaching staff and practice placements. We would be happy to work with the Labour Party to set out the steps needed to make this ambitious policy a reality.’