Government Initiative Helps Over 250 Nursing Graduates Secure NHS Jobs in Wales

More than 250 nursing graduates have secured jobs across NHS Wales following a coordinated effort to help newly qualified nurses enter employment. The development marks significant progress after concerns emerged earlier this year about graduates struggling to find suitable posts after completing their nursing degrees. The Welsh Government announced the latest figures on 18 October 2026, following several months of work involving universities and healthcare organisations.

The effort began after Health and Care Minister Mabon ap Gwynfor convened a graduate summit in June to address employment difficulties facing newly qualified healthcare professionals. Health boards, universities, Health Education and Improvement Wales (HEIW), NHS Wales Shared Services Partnership and the Welsh Government worked together to identify vacancies and match graduates with available positions. An additional allocation phase was introduced to help more nursing graduates secure posts.

According to the latest announcement, 253 additional nursing graduates have secured positions across NHS Wales since the summit. Another 28 graduates have either found employment through other routes or are currently unavailable for work. The government also confirmed that sufficient vacancies remain to support the nursing graduates who have not yet been allocated posts. Efforts are continuing to match these individuals with suitable opportunities.

The progress is particularly notable at Aberystwyth and Bangor universities, where all nursing graduates have now secured employment. At Aberystwyth University, graduates from both Adult Nursing and Mental Health Nursing programmes have found roles. The development reflects the wider cooperation between educational institutions and healthcare employers to help newly qualified nurses begin their careers and retain their skills within Wales.

One of the graduates who has recently entered employment is Mirain Breese, who completed her nursing degree at Aberystwyth University in July 2026. She has since started working as a nurse at Bronglais Hospital in Aberystwyth. Breese described the experience of balancing academic studies, clinical placements and family responsibilities as challenging, adding that support from her university, placement teams, family and friends helped her complete the course. She also expressed pride in securing a local role where she can care for patients in her own community.

Despite the progress, employment concerns have not been fully resolved across all healthcare professions. The Health and Care Minister acknowledged that further work is needed, particularly to help midwifery graduates find suitable positions. The experience of the 2026 graduate cohort will also inform future workforce planning, with the aim of bringing nursing education numbers more closely in line with staffing requirements across healthcare services.

The Welsh Government says the immediate priority is to support remaining nursing graduates into available roles while using the lessons from this year’s difficulties to improve future planning. The latest development highlights the importance of coordination between universities and healthcare employers in helping newly qualified professionals move from education into employment.

Source:

https://www.gov.wales/253-additional-nursing-graduates-secure-posts-across-nhs-wales