03.03.20
National recruitment campaign begins for most needed NHS roles
A new national recruitment campaign has been launched, targeting paramedics, radiographers and nurses, as the NHS seeks to achieve its ambitious targets of 50,000 more nurses and 26,000 more primary care professionals working in the healthcare service in the next five years.
The new Department of Health and Social Care campaign is aimed at teenagers preparing to apply for further education, career switchers and already qualified people ready to apply for vacancies.
Forming the latest phase of the new ‘We Are The NHS’ recruitment campaign, the healthcare service will look to use a mix of media channels including TV, cinema, video on demand, social media and radio to encourage people to further explore career options.
It is the first government campaign to recruit allied health professionals.
In particular, the recruitment campaign aims to help secure candidates for the roles most in need based on the NHS Long Term Plan and the interim NHS People Plan. These are:
• occupational therapists
• paramedics
• podiatrists
• diagnostic radiographers
• therapeutic radiographers
• orthoptists
• physiotherapists
• prosthetists
• orthotists
It will also aim to recruit for all nursing roles.
The campaign aims to help the government reach the aforementioned target of 50,000 more nurses and 26,000 more primary care professionals working in the NHS by 2024 to 2025.
To support this, students training towards the careers highlighted in the campaign will benefit from the new £5,000 annual maintenance grant to help with their living costs. Extra payments worth up to £3,000 a year will also be available for specialisms that are struggling to recruit, or those with childcare responsibilities.
This funding is expected to benefit around 100,000 students each year.
Health and Social Care Secretary Matt Hancock said: “I am in awe of the skill and dedication our NHS people demonstrate every day, and I’m determined to deliver on our commitment to have 50,000 more nurses and 26,000 primary care professionals in the NHS by 2025.
“From the split-second life-saving decisions made by paramedics to the cool, calm analysis carried out by radiographers, everything they do is underpinned by talent, teamwork and compassion. It’s also one of the most rewarding jobs out there, helping to save and improve people’s lives on a daily basis.
“If you think you have what it takes, I encourage you to consider a career in the NHS as an allied health professional or nurse. From September this year, students will benefit from a generous new financial support package worth at least £5,000 a year.”
Prerana Issar, Chief People Officer for the NHS, added: “The NHS is extraordinary and as well as already being the best place to get care, I’m committed to making it the best place to work, through the NHS People Plan.
“As our health service continues to roll out our Long Term Plan and treat record numbers of patients it is vital that, alongside recruiting an additional 50,000 nurses, we champion what a fulfilling and varied career the NHS provides.
“We need to ensure we’re attracting the most talented and motivated people so we can continue to deliver the world class service our patients have come to expect.”