Retaining and valuing nurses within the NHS in Wales

Published 04/10/2023

Health Education and Improvement Wales (HEIW) is pleased to announce the launch of the Nurse Retention Plan for NHS Wales- ‘Retaining and Valuing nurses in the NHS in Wales: a nurse retention plan’ aimed at ensuring the well-being and professional growth of our incredible nurses.

At the opening of the event, Lisa Llewelyn, Director of Nurse and Health Professional Education at Health Education and Improvement Wales said,

‘Our Nurses are fundamental to service delivery, working tirelessly to provide quality care to the population of Wales. We recognise the challenges they face, and this plan is aimed at enabling organisations to develop sustainable improvements for retaining our nursing workforce’.

Retention isn't just about numbers, and we have developed a suite of resources (retention guide, self-assessment tool and plan) in partnership with service colleagues, the Royal College of Nursing and Welsh Government. NHS organisations will use these resources to further support their local retentions plans.

What Does Our Nurse Retention Plan Include?

It includes guidance on compassionate leadership, flexible working and work life balance, continuous professional development, and the wellbeing of our nurses.

The physical, emotional and psychological well-being of our nurses matters, we understand the importance of work-life balance. Our plan includes actions for organisations to develop a flexible compassionate culture.  

In order to support implementation of the NHS Wales retention programme HEIW has offered organisations financial support for a Retention Lead post for up to 24 months, to bolster existing resources. The purpose of this organisational Lead will be to develop local retention plans that meet organisational requirements and priorities for the wider workforce. HEIW will also be supporting the retention leads through a professional network to share good practice.

Sue Tranka, Chief Nursing Officer for Wales said:

"I am delighted to have supported the development of the Nurse Retention Plan and the associated resources which will support, guide, and enable organisations to retain their current staff who are our Welsh workforce for today, tomorrow and for the future.

Supporting all organisations to deliver the plan is essential to make a real difference to the working lives of our workforce."

Helen Whyley, Director of RCN Wales said:

“Retaining the nursing workforce in Wales is essential for a sustainable and thriving NHS. Not only must we nurture the invaluable knowledge and experience of long-serving nursing staff but also assure newly qualified nurses that nursing truly is a career for life. The Nurse Retention Plan is a vital step in improving retention of the workforce of today and the future and we must now work in social partnership to ensure these objectives are promptly implemented.”