Emma Coomer left a full-time job at a GP practice to study nursing, only to find no Band 5 positions available in Wales upon graduation.
How the recruitment freeze affects new graduates
The Welsh government paused university-run paramedic courses in Wales from September due to insufficient job vacancies, a decision made with Health Education and Improvement Wales and the Welsh Ambulance Services University NHS Trust to reduce competition for vacancies over the next few years. Trainee midwives and nursing students report feeling let down after investing thousands of hours in training with no clear path to employment, with some considering work abroad or jobs outside healthcare.
What students say about the broken promise
Emma Coomer described the situation as “awful” and “such a let-down,” expressing disappointment after leaving stable employment for a nursing degree at the University of South Wales. Layla Cahill-Harris from Bridgend said her cohort feels shocked to have worked 2,300 hours only to face uncertainty, even as Sophie Dodd from Treorchy described feeling completely in the dark despite her passion for midwifery and belief in the profession’s necessity.
Why are NHS training places being funded if jobs aren’t available?
Health Education and Improvement Wales states the pause on paramedic courses aims to improve employment opportunities by aligning training with actual vacancies, though students argue the bursary system requires them to repay funding by working in Wales for two years, creating a conflict when no local jobs exist.
What are graduates doing instead of NHS roles?
Some trainees are exploring work abroad or taking jobs in sectors like retail, with one physiotherapy student mentioned as working in Starbucks and considering moving to Canada to use her degree, reflecting broader UK trends of limited recruitment in NHS Wales this year.
