NHS shake-up to see staff hired before vacancies arise

The government has announced a significant shift in NHS recruitment, enabling trusts to hire newly qualified nurses and midwives based on projected need, rather than waiting for vacancies to arise.

- ROBERT WHITE

This “graduate guarantee” aims to streamline the process and ensure every new nurse and midwife in England can secure a position.

The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) confirmed that the change will allow NHS providers to recruit proactively, moving away from a system reliant on current headcounts.

This strategic adjustment is designed to remove existing barriers for trusts, opening up thousands of roles for new graduates and ensuring the health service has the necessary staffing levels to deliver optimal patient care across the country.

As part of the comprehensive package, newly qualified students will gain access to a dedicated online hub offering vital information and guidance for their applications.

Furthermore, an additional £8m has been allocated to temporarily convert vacant maternity support worker posts into band 5 midwifery positions, bolstering frontline services.

The package comes following talks between the government, the Royal College of Midwives (RCM) and the Royal College of Nursing (RCN).