Students trained at public expense urged to take lower-grade jobs as anger grows over NHS workforce planning

NEWLY qualified paramedics in Wales have been told there are no jobs available for them this year, with the Welsh Ambulance Service instead urging graduates to consider applying for technician roles or seeking work elsewhere.

The development marks a major escalation in a row already exposed by The Herald, which revealed that final-year student paramedics had been told there would be no newly qualified paramedic posts available in Wales during the 2026-27 financial year. A second Herald report then disclosed an internal email sent after a board meeting on Wednesday, March 26, confirming that the trust “does not require any NQPs” this year.

That internal message, seen by The Herald, said employing newly qualified paramedics in 2026 was “simply not affordable” and stated that the service currently had “more paramedics than required” and enough lead practitioners to cover short and medium-term vacancies.

Now, in an on-the-record statement, Carl Kneeshaw, Director of People at the Welsh Ambulance Service, has publicly confirmed the same position.

He said the service was navigating a “difficult financial and operational landscape” and that recruitment decisions had to be based on current staffing levels, service demand, workforce skill mix and affordability.

Mr Kneeshaw said: “Regrettably, as things stand, we are not in a position to employ newly qualified paramedics this year.”

He said graduates wanting to build a career with the Welsh Ambulance Service should explore other opportunities, including Emergency Medical Technician roles, and also consider positions with other ambulance services and organisations across health and social care.

For many students, that will be a bitter blow. They have spent three years training specifically to qualify as paramedics, often on publicly supported courses, only to now be told they may need to take lower-grade frontline roles or look beyond Wales for work.

The row has now triggered political backlash.

Welsh Conservative leader Darren Millar described the situation as “staggering and deeply frustrating”.

He said: “We are training paramedics at public expense, only to tell them there are no jobs for them in Wales and they should consider going abroad.

“At a time when ambulance response times are still far too long and patients are coming to harm and waiting in pain, this simply makes no sense.”

Mr Millar said the development showed a serious failure in NHS workforce planning and accused the Welsh Labour Government of mishandling the situation.

The controversy also revives wider questions about how NHS staffing is being planned in Wales.

The Herald previously reported that opportunities for newly qualified paramedics had already been shrinking, with only around a third of 2025 graduates initially securing paramedic posts, while others were instead offered technician roles.

For critics, the contradiction is obvious: Wales is helping fund the training of future paramedics, but the ambulance service is now telling at least some of those graduates to take lower-grade roles, apply elsewhere, or even seek work overseas.

The Welsh Ambulance Service, however, is likely to argue that the decision reflects financial pressures and the current make-up of its workforce, rather than any lack of respect for newly qualified staff.

With the Senedd election due on Thursday, May 7, the issue is fast becoming more than an employment dispute. It is shaping up as a test of whether ministers can justify spending public money training frontline NHS staff while the national ambulance service says it cannot afford to hire them.

HOMELESSNESS in Wales remains at worrying levels despite a small drop in official figures, according to charity Crisis.

New Welsh Government data published on Thursday (Apr 2) shows that 6,426 households were living in temporary accommodation on September 30, 2025 — a one per cent fall on the same point last year, but still the third highest figure on record.

The statistics, covering the period from April to September 2025, also show that just over a third of households in temporary accommodation were being housed in bed and breakfast accommodation. That figure fell from 41 per cent to 35 per cent compared with the same period a year earlier.

During the six-month period, 3,645 households were threatened with homelessness, down 10 per cent on the previous year. In 58 per cent of those cases, homelessness was successfully prevented for at least six months, compared with 56 per cent the year before.

A further 5,556 households were assessed as homeless and owed a duty to help secure accommodation, a drop of 14 per cent. Of those, 28 per cent were successfully helped to secure accommodation, compared with 25 per cent last year.

Crisis said the figures do not capture the full scale of the problem, warning that many people experiencing hidden homelessness are not included in council records.

Ahead of the Senedd election in May, the charity is calling on all political parties in Wales to make ending homelessness a priority.

Crisis said the recently passed Homelessness and Social Housing Allocations (Wales) Act, which received cross-party backing in the Senedd, could help reduce homelessness in future. However, it warned that the next Welsh Government would need to back the new law with proper investment and a clear plan for delivery.

Debbie Thomas, Head of Policy and Communications at Crisis in Wales, said: “While today’s statistics show a welcome decrease in the numbers of people experiencing homelessness, this is certainly no time for complacency.

“The picture in Wales remains deeply troubling as thousands of people are still living in instability, with the numbers of people living in temporary accommodation being the third highest on record.

“Behind these numbers are families and individuals stuck for months in temporary accommodation, often without basic cooking or washing facilities, unsure when they will have a stable place to call home.

“Through our services, we see every day the impact homelessness has on people’s lives, including their physical and mental health. No one should have to experience long-term trauma because of insecure housing.

“With housing services across the country struggling with continuously high caseloads, we need the next Welsh Government to commit to ending homelessness for good.”

She added that the new homelessness law offered hope, but said meaningful change would depend on firm commitments after the election.

“We must see a clear plan to end homelessness, investment in actioning the new homelessness law, and building the social homes we so desperately need,” she said.

“With the right action and political will, we can build a future where everyone in Wales has a safe, secure place to call home.”

THE PORT OF MILFORD HAVEN has renewed its Gold Associate Supporter sponsorship of the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, continuing its backing for young people across Pembrokeshire during the charity’s 70th anniversary year.

The Port has supported the programme since 2021. In 2025 and 2026, the DofE is expected to support 375 young people across nine schools in the county: Milford Haven School, Ysgol Harri Tudur, Haverfordwest High, Ysgol Greenhill School, Portfield School, Redhill School, Ysgol Bro Preseli, Ysgol Caer Elen and Ysgol Penrhyn Dewi.

The partnership helps more young people take part in volunteering, physical activity, skills development and expedition activities. Extra funding will also support efforts to reach marginalised groups.

The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award is widely recognised for helping young people aged 14 to 24 build confidence, resilience and practical life skills. By continuing its support at gold level, the Port is helping more young people in Pembrokeshire gain new experiences and develop skills for the future.

Ian Gwilym, of DofE Wales, said: “It’s fantastic that the Port of Milford Haven is continuing its valuable support at gold level, especially in this 70th anniversary year for the DofE. This partnership shows how strongly the Port values giving young people opportunities to gain meaningful experiences and life-enhancing skills. Their support is helping more young people in Pembrokeshire step forward with confidence into their futures.”

Anna Malloy, Communications and Marketing Director at the Port of Milford Haven, said: “We are incredibly proud to celebrate the DofE’s 70th anniversary as a gold sponsor. The programme reflects values that matter deeply to us as an organisation – determination, leadership, community spirit and personal growth. By supporting young people across Pembrokeshire, we’re investing in a future generation that is skilled, resilient and ready to contribute to our community and region.”