With the World Health Organisation predicting a worldwide shortfall of 10 million health workers by 2030, the Welsh Government has published a new strategy to address the challenges of staffing NHS Wales.

The National Workforce Implementation Plan is designed to ensure the NHS in Wales remains fully staffed and includes a campaign to ethically recruit more nurses from overseas.

A recruitment drive is planned for later in 2023, which follows on from last year’s successful ‘Once for Wales’ pilot campaign. This led to around 400 nurses joining the NHS.

There are also plans to create an ‘All-Wales Collaborative Bank’ to enable the NHS to address short-term staffing issues and provide staff with choice and flexibility, while encouraging a move away from agency working which cost NHS Wales £260 million last year.

The Welsh Government will issue detailed plans for specific professions and services such as nursing, dentistry and pharmacy over the next two years.

Eluned Morgan, the Minister for Health and Social Services, said:

"Our health workforce has reached record numbers in Wales, to help meet the increasing demand on its services. But we are seeing demand for health and social care like never before, in Wales and across the world.

"Our plans are based on what NHS staff have been telling us - that rapid action is needed in key areas now.

"The message is clear: we must accelerate our action, with strong, collective and compassionate leadership, if we are to improve retention and recruitment. It’s vital we provide our workforce with the working environment it needs to continue to provide world-class care for the people of Wales."