Jeremy Miles, MS, Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care
The annual commissioning process, undertaken by Health Education and Improvement Wales (HEIW), identifies the education and training programmes needed to meet the NHS’ workforce needs.
This is the seventh year HEIW has developed the national Education Commissioning and Training Plan.
I am today confirming the Welsh Government will continue its investment in the commissioning of education and training of healthcare professionals, by providing £319.6m for the 2026-27 academic year. This represents a continued commitment to the NHS workforce during an exceptionally challenging financial period.
We recognise the critical importance of a stable, well‑trained, and sustainable NHS workforce – this investment underlines our determination to safeguard the workforce pipeline on which NHS Wales depends.
In setting the budget for the 2026-27 academic year, I have chosen to prioritise continuity and sustain the programmes essential to delivering safe and effective care.
I do so against the backdrop of the problems a significant number of graduates, across a number of professions, including nursing and paramedicine, experienced when trying to secure jobs, due to a shortage of available vacancies.
The measured approach for 2026-27 will ensure priority programmes continue and supports a one‑year stabilising position while the Welsh Government and HEIW complete detailed scenario modelling and develop a strengthened, long‑term workforce planning and commissioning model for future years.
I am proud of this government’s sustained investment in the education and training of the NHS workforce.
The NHS in Wales now has more people working in it than at any point in its history, supporting prevention, care and wellbeing in communities across the country.
As of 30 September 2025, NHS Wales employed 99,993 full‑time equivalent staff – an increase of 2% on the previous year and 13.1% higher than at the start of the Senedd term.