UK Eases NHS Hiring Barriers for New Nurses Amid Pay Disputes

The UK government has introduced a package of measures aimed at speeding up recruitment of newly qualified nurses and midwives in England, addressing complaints that graduates often struggle to find vacancies despite workforce shortages. Under the reforms, NHS trusts will be encouraged to hire graduates earlier in the recruitment cycle, supported by an online hub that aggregates openings across hospital, social-care and independent providers. To ease pressure in maternity services, the Department of Health and Social Care is allocating £8 million to temporarily convert vacant maternity-support-worker posts into entry-level Band 5 midwifery roles, creating immediate positions for new midwives. Daniel Elkeles of NHS Providers said trusts will have to be “exceptionally creative” to fund the posts within existing budgets. Professor Nicola Ranger of the Royal College of Nursing welcomed efforts to smooth hiring but noted they come after nurses rejected the government’s latest pay offer. The initiative also follows last month’s five-day walkout by resident doctors; Liberal Democrat health spokesperson Helen Morgan warned that further strikes would be “unacceptable” and urged ministers to resolve ongoing pay disputes. While talks with doctors’ unions are set to resume, the government has ruled out additional pay rises this year.