In response to the latest UCAS data showing falling applications for many healthcare degree programmes, the Council of Deans of Health joined with leaders from across the higher education sector to ask for the establishment of a cross-government taskforce for health education.
The Council signed the letter alongside University Alliance, the Russell Group, Million Plus, GuildHE and London Higher.
Writing to the Secretary of State for Education and the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, the letter calls for more join-up between relevant government departments, and deepened collaboration between government, the NHS and education providers in universities and colleges. This accords with the Council’s general election manifesto paper which is underpinned by the need for a joint endeavour to deliver NHS England’s Long Term Workforce Plan.
A cross-government taskforce could bring together representatives from the Department for Education and the Department for Health and Social Care alongside representatives from NHS England, health regulators, local government and higher education providers to:
- effectively co-ordinate activity to bolster student recruitment
- work to increase the capacity of clinical placements
- develop strategies for the recruitment and retention of staff
- address specific challenges such as duplication in regulation and boosting degree apprenticeships
Ed Hughes, CEO of Council of Deans of Health said:
“Our members already work closely with local and regional NHS partners to deliver high quality education and training to healthcare students across the UK. Bringing together all the key stakeholders at a national level would build on our existing collaborations to address the system-wide challenges which currently limit the supply of the next generation of health care professionals needed to deliver for patients.”