Over 250 newly qualified nurses have obtained positions within the Welsh NHS as part of an initiative to employ graduates who were awaiting the start of their professional careers.
The Welsh Government’s placement programme has resulted in 253 individuals securing roles since a dedicated summit was held by Health and Care Minister Mabon ap Gwynfor in June.
Despite this progress, gaps remain as certain nursing graduates continue to await allocation, while the minister has conceded that additional efforts are required to assist those qualifying in midwifery.
All graduates from the nursing programmes at Aberystwyth and Bangor universities have now found employment.
Officials indicated that sufficient vacancies exist throughout the health service to accommodate the outstanding graduates still seeking placement, with ongoing efforts to align candidates with appropriate positions.
A specific number for those still awaiting allocation was not disclosed.
An additional recruitment phase has enabled numerous graduates to obtain posts, while a further 28 individuals have either secured employment through alternative channels or are presently unavailable for work.
The initiative has involved collaboration between health boards, higher education institutions, Health Education and Improvement Wales and the NHS Wales Shared Services Partnership alongside the Welsh Government.
Mabon ap Gwynfor is scheduled to visit Aberystwyth University on October 19, where every adult and mental health nursing graduate has now been assigned to a position.
Prior to the visit, the minister stated that the situation had caused considerable anxiety for newly qualified healthcare professionals waiting to commence their careers.
He noted that progress since the graduate summit demonstrated what could be accomplished, though significant work remained, particularly for midwifery graduates, and the government remained dedicated to supporting graduates into employment while preserving their skills within NHS Wales.
Government officials indicated that insights gained from the experiences of the 2026 cohort would shape future decisions regarding training commission numbers and workforce strategy, with the aim of more effectively aligning qualification volumes with health service requirements.
Among those now employed is Mirain Breese, who completed her studies at Aberystwyth University in July and has taken up a nursing role at Bronglais Hospital.
She began her programme when her youngest child commenced full-time education, managing academic commitments and clinical placements alongside family responsibilities.
She explained that juggling coursework, clinical training and family commitments presented challenges, though support from the university, placement supervisors, fellow students, relatives and friends proved invaluable.
She highlighted that pursuing her studies through the medium of Welsh while remaining close to home held particular significance.
Achieving qualification as a nurse and obtaining a local position providing care for patients in her own community represented a source of considerable pride.