Briefing – Education for a healthy future

08 July 2024

Russell Group universities train the nurses, doctors, dentists, technicians and other professionals the NHS needs to cut waiting lists and bring advanced technologies and treatments into everyday use. They represent 22 of the 46 medical schools in the UK and collectively train 4 out of 5 medicine and dentistry students.

Dedicated people are at the heart of the NHS. Increasing our workforce in line with the ambitions set out in the NHS Long Term Workforce Plan, and equivalent long-term strategies in the devolved administrations, will be crucial for the future of our health services. But growing the UK’s health workforce cannot be achieved by continuing to do health education in the same way – education and training must evolve to meet the challenges ahead. Our universities are working to develop creative and innovative solutions to overcome barriers to expansion and stand ready to work with government, the NHS and other partners to help deliver these ambitions.

A new medical training taskforce could bring universities, NHS trusts, relevant professional bodies and local and central government together in workforce planning and implementation to ensure a strategic, collaborative and coordinated approach.  

Find out more in our briefing.