Media Statement: Adult Nursing Vacancies

Date: 24 October 2025

Lisa Llewelyn, Executive Director of Nursing, Health Professions and Quality, Health Education and Improvement Wales

“We are aware that many nursing students have been left worried by the lack of adult nursing vacancies currently available in Swansea Bay University Health Board at the launch of this year’s Student Streamlining Programme. We want to acknowledge this openly and express how sorry we are for the concern it has caused at such an important point in students’ training.

In response, we are extending the streamlining application window to give more time for additional solutions to be explored. We are working closely with Swansea Bay and other relevant organisations to identify and publish further vacancies.

Importantly, if sufficient posts are not available, students will not be tied into NHS Wales Bursary conditions.

We have written to students via universities to reassure them and will keep them fully informed.

Our priority is to support every nursing graduate into employment at the point of registration, and we are working closely with Health Boards to make sure that happens.”