The UK government has taken a significant step forward in bolstering the National Health Service (NHS) workforce by funding an additional 350 medical school places in England for the
academic year 2025/26. This initiative aligns with the ongoing efforts to realize the NHS Long Term Workforce Plan, which aims to double medical school places by 2031.
Last year, the NHS unveiled its Long Term Workforce Plan, backed by substantial government funding exceeding £2.4 billion. This plan outlines a comprehensive strategy to recruit and retain hundreds of thousands more healthcare professionals over the next 15 years, constituting the most extensive training expansion in NHS history.
Central to this initiative is the commitment to double the number of medical school places in England to 15,000 by 2031, with a focus on ensuring equitable distribution to address regional disparities in access to healthcare services.
In furtherance of this goal, the Office for Students (OfS) has allocated 350 places for the academic year 2025/26 to medical schools across the nation. This expansion aims to meet the evolving demands of the NHS and to equip the healthcare system with a skilled workforce capable of delivering high-quality care to patients nationwide.
Victoria Atkins, Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, emphasized the government's dedication to fostering a robust healthcare system: "Thanks to the Government’s plan for a faster, simpler, and fairer healthcare system, the NHS now has record funding and a record number of doctors. I want to make sure that we will have the medical professionals we will need in the years ahead."
Gillian Keegan, Secretary of State for Education, underscored the importance of providing opportunities for aspiring healthcare professionals: "With this expansion of places - alongside our new doctor degree apprenticeship - the opportunities for a career in medicine are greater than ever."
Amanda Pritchard, Chief Executive of NHS England, hailed the expansion as a pivotal moment for the NHS Long Term Workforce Plan: "The ambitious blueprint for our workforce is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to put NHS staffing on a sustainable footing, particularly as we continue to adapt to new and rising demand for health services."
Dr. Katie Petty-Saphon, CEO of the Medical Schools Council, welcomed the announcement, emphasizing the commitment of medical schools to widening participation in the profession and addressing shortages in under-doctored areas.
The allocation of places has been strategically planned to target under-doctored regions, with significant increases granted to medical schools in areas such as Sunderland, Leeds, East Anglia, Anglia Ruskin, Plymouth, and Surrey.
This latest expansion builds on previous efforts, including a 25% increase in medical school places completed in 2020, which saw the establishment of five new medical schools. The combination of additional medical places and apprenticeships positions the NHS on track to surpass current targets.
Looking ahead, the government, in collaboration with NHS England and key stakeholders, remains committed to implementing ambitious reforms outlined in the NHS Long Term Workforce Plan to ensure a resilient and sustainable healthcare workforce for the future.