More than 4,300 people have applied to study nursing in Wales, but the profession’s union says students must be assured of employment when they qualify

INTEREST in studying nursing in Wales has remained broadly stable following last year’s five-year high, according to the latest university application figures.

Data published by the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service, known as UCAS, shows that 4,340 people had applied for nursing courses in Wales by the June 2026 deadline.

That is 30 fewer than the 4,370 applications recorded at the same point last year, representing a decrease of approximately 0.7%.

However, the latest total remains significantly higher than in 2024, when 3,870 applications were received. Applications rose by almost 13% between 2024 and 2025, suggesting that interest in joining the profession has remained relatively resilient despite the pressures facing NHS Wales.

The Royal College of Nursing Wales welcomed the continued interest but said attracting people into nursing education must be matched by clear employment opportunities once they complete their training.

Professor Sandy Harding, Associate Director of Nursing Policy and Professional Practice at RCN Wales, said: “It is encouraging to see continued interest in nursing programmes in Wales.

“While application numbers are slightly lower than last year, the difference is minimal and follows a particularly strong year for recruitment.

“Nursing remains a rewarding and valued profession, and we are pleased that so many people continue to choose Wales as a place to study.”

She said many applicants would come from outside Wales, bringing different experiences and perspectives to universities and the future nursing workforce.

The latest figures come amid continuing concern about the number of jobs available to nurses after they qualify.

In May, Health Education and Improvement Wales announced that 809 roles would be made available across NHS Wales for nurses completing their training during the remainder of 2026.

RCN Wales said that was enough to provide jobs for around 69% of the anticipated graduating cohort, potentially leaving almost one in three newly qualified nurses without a confirmed NHS role in Wales.

The union has repeatedly called on the Welsh Government to introduce a graduate guarantee, ensuring that nursing students trained in Wales are offered employment within the Welsh NHS after qualifying.

The Herald previously reported that 65 final-year adult nursing students connected to Swansea Bay University Health Board had been left with no suitable vacancies to apply for despite completing much of their clinical training in local hospitals.

At the time, the health board was understood to have introduced a partial vacancy freeze because of financial pressures.

The situation prompted criticism from the RCN, which warned of a contradiction between reports of staff shortages across NHS Wales and the lack of entry-level posts for people completing nursing degrees.

RCN figures highlighted in earlier Herald reporting suggested NHS Wales was struggling to fill more than 1,400 registered nurse vacancies during late 2025.

The union warned that shortages were placing additional pressure on existing staff, increasing reliance on agency workers and contributing to burnout and unpaid overtime.

Professor Harding said Wales had invested considerably in educating its future nursing workforce and should ensure that graduates were not forced to move elsewhere to begin their careers.

She said: “As students prepare to begin their nursing education this September, we look forward to welcoming them and supporting them throughout their studies.

“We will engage with many of them during their first placement experiences and in their early weeks of clinical practice.

“At the same time, it is important that we continue to focus on employment opportunities for those completing their nursing programmes.

“Wales has invested significantly in educating the next generation of nurses, and we want newly qualified registrants to be able to build their careers within the Welsh NHS and wider health and care system.”

The RCN fears that graduates who cannot secure suitable posts could be lost to health services elsewhere in the United Kingdom, overseas or outside the profession altogether.

It has also raised concerns about career development for nurses who do secure employment, including limited progression from Band 5 roles and a lack of funded support programmes for newly qualified staff.

Professor Harding added: “RCN Wales continues to call on the Welsh Government to guarantee employment opportunities for all nursing graduates in Wales.

“At a time when services face significant workforce pressures, it is essential that newly qualified nurses are able to move into practice, develop their skills and contribute to patient care.

“Supporting people into nursing education and ensuring there are opportunities for them when they graduate are both critical to building a sustainable nursing workforce for the future.”

The UCAS figures record applications rather than the number of students who ultimately accept places and begin courses.

Further acceptance and enrolment data will therefore provide a clearer indication of how many new nursing students are expected to begin their studies in Wales during the new academic year.

Additional GP and health checks welcomed as BMA warns more than half of Welsh doctors cannot routinely meet demand

THERE are signs of improvement at one of Pembrokeshire’s most heavily pressured GP practices, but fresh figures suggest the problems facing Argyle Medical Group are far from resolved.

Henry Tufnell MP has welcomed the introduction of a new appointment system at the Argyle Street surgery in Pembroke Dock, together with what he described as the arrival of an additional doctor and the rollout of free health screening for patients aged over 65.

The Mid and South Pembrokeshire MP said he had received positive feedback about the practice’s new booking arrangements, following months of concern over difficulties securing appointments.

Argyle Medical Group introduced its Anima online triage system on June 10. It replaced the previous online system and was intended to reduce the familiar 8am rush for appointments.

Patients submit details of their medical problem online, after which the request is assessed and directed to the most appropriate clinician or service. Those unable to use the internet can still contact the surgery by telephone and reception staff can complete the request on their behalf.

The practice says it aims to assess requests on the same day, although some routine matters may take longer.

However, the system does not remove the underlying issue of limited capacity.

Argyle has warned that Anima may close to further medical submissions when the number of requests reaches the maximum level the practice believes it can safely manage.

Patients may then have to try again on the following working day, although those with urgent concerns are advised to contact the surgery, NHS 111 or emergency services as appropriate.

The pressure is also being increased by the continuing closure of St Oswald’s Surgery in Pembroke, which is part of Argyle Medical Group.

The branch remains closed for maintenance work and is currently not expected to reopen until September 2026.

Argyle Medical Group serves more than 22,000 patients across the Pembroke and Pembroke Dock area. Previous figures raised in the Senedd indicated that the practice had nine registered GPs, giving it one of the highest patient-to-doctor ratios in Wales.

Mr Tufnell’s announcement that another doctor has joined the practice will therefore be welcomed, although it is not yet clear whether the appointment is permanent or full-time.

The developments come as new research from BMA Cymru Wales paints a bleak picture of general practice across the country.

A survey of 221 Welsh GPs found that 54 per cent believed patient access was routinely inadequate when compared with demand.

A further 63 per cent said excessive workloads were routinely or constantly affecting patient care, while 70 per cent said the pressure was having a similar effect on their own wellbeing.

Practices are also making difficult financial decisions to remain viable. The survey found that 43 per cent had frozen recruitment, 31 per cent had delayed investment in buildings, technology or facilities, and 23 per cent had reduced services such as minor surgery and shared-care arrangements.

Dr Gareth Oelmann, chair of the BMA’s Welsh GP committee, said demand was far outstripping the capacity available within surgeries.

He called for sustained investment to allow practices to recruit more doctors, improve services and plan for the future.

Welsh Conservatives have blamed what they described as years of political mismanagement for the situation.

Natasha Asghar MS, the party’s Shadow Minister for Health and Social Care, said: “These findings are deeply worrying but, sadly, they won’t come as a surprise to patients who are struggling to get a GP appointment.

“When GP practices cannot recruit staff, are forced to freeze investment and are even cutting services just to keep their doors open, it is patients who pay the price through longer waits and poorer access to care.

“If we are serious about shifting more healthcare into the community and reducing pressure on hospitals, then general practice must be properly resourced.”

For Argyle patients, the new booking system and reported recruitment of another doctor represent positive steps.

The more important test will be whether patients experience sustained improvements, whether the system regularly reaches its daily limit, and whether the practice can recruit and retain enough clinicians to meet the needs of its large patient population.

WALES has recorded the highest rate of self-medication for anxiety and stress of any UK region, according to a new healthcare survey.

The STADA Health Report 2026 found that 31 per cent of adults surveyed in Wales said they self-medicated to manage anxiety or stress.

That was almost six percentage points above the UK average of 25.2 per cent.

The report also found comparatively low levels of trust in artificial intelligence for healthcare, alongside concerns about access to services, ageing and the amount of health information people are expected to navigate.

Just 38.5 per cent of Welsh respondents said they would trust AI to make a health diagnosis, the lowest rate recorded among the UK regions surveyed and well below the national average of 52.3 per cent.

Fewer than half, 42.4 per cent, said they would consider having a health consultation using AI, compared with 49.5 per cent across the UK.

Satisfaction with the public healthcare system was also lower in Wales. Some 57.9 per cent of Welsh respondents said they were satisfied, compared with a UK average of 65.1 per cent.

The findings form part of an international study commissioned by pharmaceutical manufacturer STADA Thornton & Ross and carried out by market research company Human8 Consulting.

A total of 2,001 adults were surveyed in the UK during February and March 2026, as part of a wider study involving 19,514 respondents across 20 countries. The company has not stated in the press material how many of the UK participants were based in Wales.

Concerns about ageing and access to care

More than two-thirds of Welsh respondents, 66.8 per cent, said they feared becoming dependent on care as they grew older.

That compared with a UK average of 54.3 per cent.

More than half of those surveyed in Wales, 55.4 per cent, also said they felt overwhelmed by the amount of health information available, against 47.7 per cent nationally.

The report’s authors said the findings suggested that some people were increasingly relying on self-management when they felt unable to access timely professional support.

However, the term “self-medication” can cover a range of behaviours, including the use of non-prescription medicines, supplements or other substances without direct advice from a healthcare professional.

Craig Shaw, general manager for STADA UK, said: “When one in three adults say they are self-medicating for anxiety or stress, it suggests many people are looking for practical ways to manage their wellbeing, but may not always feel they have access to the support they need at the right time.

“While trust in AI health tools is lower in Wales than elsewhere in the UK, the data also reinforces the enduring importance of trusted, face-to-face healthcare.

“Community pharmacists are uniquely placed to provide accessible advice, reassurance and guidance, helping people make informed decisions about managing their health and knowing when additional support is needed.”

STADA Thornton & Ross manufactures healthcare products including Covonia, Cetraben, Hedrin, Savlon and Zoflora, as well as generic and specialist medicines.

Anyone experiencing anxiety or stress is advised to speak to a GP, pharmacist or another qualified healthcare professional before taking medication that has not been prescribed for them.