Nearly 400 Welsh nursing and midwifery graduates still without NHS jobs

Nearly 400 Welsh nursing and midwifery graduates remain without NHS jobs after the initial process to match them to suitable roles finished.

Improved recruitment and retention of staff meant there were fewer vacancies than had been originally anticipated, according to the Health Education and Improvement Wales (HEIW), which is responsible for developing and training workers.

It said 703 graduates had been matched to entry-level band 5 roles, but 383 nursing, midwifery and operating department practitioners (ODPs) had not secured any.

Nursing and midwifery unions both criticised the lack of available roles, pointing to increasing demand at hospitals struggling with staffing shortages.

The students' university places were funded because the healthcare system mapped out the number of people that would be needed to fill future roles, but in the four years since things have changed - including spiralling costs for health boards and trusts.

But in some places it is also because fewer people are leaving the profession, so gaps have not been created. Cwm Taf Morgannwg, for instance, has found that staff turnover nearly halved in recent years.

The majority of the 383 who have not secured jobs are nurses, with 70 midwives and 7 ODPs.

A further allocation phase to match graduates to 131 remaining nursing roles will be completed by the end of July, which will reduce the total numbers without jobs.

HEIW said in a statement that improved workforce recruitment and retention in years along with cost of living pressures "have resulted in lower turnover and fewer vacancies arising than anticipated when the workforce plans were submitted four years ago".

"Alongside increased financial constraints, this has led to fewer suitable band 5 opportunities being available this year," it said.

Alex Howells, chief executive of HEIW, said: "We recognise that this outcome will be disappointing for those graduates who have not yet secured a post through the initial phase of streamlining.

"Alongside supporting those affected by the current position, partners will also be working together to strengthen workforce planning and improve opportunities for future cohorts."

It is understood that those who have not been successful in finding a job during this initial process will be offered "flexibility" in relation to the NHS Wales bursary, which paid for their tuition fees on the condition they worked in Wales for two years after graduation.

Nicola Williams, executive director of nursing at Royal College of Nursing Wales, said: "We are calling on the Welsh government to intervene urgently as there are a number of solutions that can be put in place to provide each graduate with a job.

"At a time when we are spending large amounts on temporary staffing, our members continue to tell us of the significant pressures they face every day, with increasing demand and insufficient staff, we cannot justify a position where newly qualified nurses are unable to secure employment."

Julie Richards, director of Royal College of Midwives Cymru, said: "It leaves us questioning how many newly qualified midwives, who are ready and willing to work, can be left without jobs while services continue to struggle with workforce shortages.

"It's disappointing that there are insufficient jobs for all graduate midwives when we desperately need them in the workforce to ease the staffing crisis in our maternity services."

Earlier this year an assessment of maternity and neonatal care found urgent action was needed to address staffing levels, which had not kept pace with the complexity of care.

"On one hand we have national reviews and assessments highlighting the urgent need to improve staffing levels to ensure safe, equitable care," Richards added.

"On the other, we are seeing newly qualified midwives facing uncertainty about their future employment. That simply does not add up."

Earlier this month Wales' health minister Mabon ap Gwynfor held a summit with health bosses, universities and professional bodies to discuss the issue.

A Welsh government spokesperson said the summit was organised by ap Gwynfor "to find immediate solutions and prevent this from happening again and asked for actions from the summit to be rolled out nationally".

The spokesperson added: "We have asked Health Education and Improvement Wales to coordinate a national support offer, including a single point of access to ensure graduates remain supported and connected to emerging employment opportunities.