NHS could see more apprenticeships in ‘harder to recruit’ areas – Barclay

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. the more we can have apprenticeships, the more we can grow our own, I think that is hugely desirable and should be a key part of the long term workforce plan Steve Barclay Asked about the workforce plan, Steve Barclay told the Health and Social Care Committee: “A huge amount of work has gone into the long term workforce plan. “Secondly, I think there’s a lot more we can do around vocational training, so a lot of the trusts that find it difficult to recruit in certain parts of the country, the more we can have apprenticeships, the more we can grow our own, I think that is hugely desirable and should be a key part of the long term workforce plan.” He added that the documents would also address issues with technology currently inhibiting the workforce but will also set out ambitions including the use of AI technology to free up clinicians time. But it’s right that for something that is so important, it is right that we also take our time on the document as part of that publication.” Asked about chances of the document being published on or around the health service’s NHS 75th anniversary on July 5, Mr Barclay said “nine out of 10”. And a Nuffield Trust report from 2022 highlighted how regional variation in NHS staffing levels can lead to “inequalities” in patients’ access to services.