Welcoming announcements in today’s Budget, Dr Katerina Kolyva, Chief Executive Officer of the Council of Deans of Health, said:
“ The Chancellor’s recognition that upskilling individuals levels up regional productivity speaks to the work of our 100 members, spread across every region and nation of the United Kingdom. They deliver high value healthcare degrees that benefit students, their communities and the whole country through careers in the NHS, social care, research and education in public, private and third sector settings.
Almost all British-domiciled nursing students study at one of our members, and the reiteration of the 50,000 nurses target is one we remain keen to help reach. The Health and Social Care Levy can help this aim by supporting the delivery of more homegrown staff across all health professions and expanding practice placements to give more students frontline experience in the NHS.
The record spending on health R&D is good news for British innovation and the development of high-quality health research. It can also spur on the 50,000 nurses target by supporting simulation and artificial intelligence in education. If we combine this with embracing a more agile post-Brexit approach to healthcare regulation, the ambition to be a science superpower could see a real-life impact of more healthcare workers ready to serve on the frontline at a time they are most needed.
Investment in apprenticeships, adult numeracy and literacy and wider lifelong learning is welcome too. This can unlock the potential of many who want to study to be nurses, midwives and allied health professionals in our NHS, alongside more traditional routes to achieving a healthcare degree.
As we look over the Budget’s detail, we are also very aware of an imminent decision on the Augar Review and look forward to clarity on the funding of Health Education England.”