Three in four young people have not ruled out pursuing a career in healthcare, according to a survey commissioned by Universities UK (UUK). However, perceptions of poor working conditions such as low pay, long hours, and high stress are deterring many from entering the field. The survey, which included 5,259 young people aged between 16 and 26 across the UK, found that 90% of respondents were put off by low pay, while 82% cited poor work/life balance as a deterrent. In response, UUK is calling for greater incentives and support, such as financial assistance through grants and loans, as well as payment for clinical placements, to encourage more young people to pursue healthcare education courses.
The findings of the survey highlight concerns that the NHS workforce plan could fail if measures are not taken to attract and retain young talent in the healthcare sector. Currently, only a fifth of young people said they were familiar with the range of career options available within the NHS beyond becoming a doctor or nurse.
During the Covid-19 pandemic, there was a surge in applications for healthcare courses, with many inspired by the crisis. However, recent data from Ucas shows a decline in the number of people applying to undergraduate nursing courses in the UK, with figures falling below pre-pandemic levels.
Universities UK has urged the government to launch a national recruitment campaign in collaboration with universities, colleges, schools, and the NHS to prevent a decline in the talent pipeline. The organization is also calling for increased maintenance support to alleviate financial pressures on healthcare students.
Dr Billy Palmer, senior fellow at the Nuffield Trust, emphasized the need for more positive perceptions of clinical careers and additional support for students. He suggested that providing student loan forgiveness for those working in the NHS could incentivize more young people to pursue healthcare courses.
The government’s NHS Long Term Workforce Plan, announced in June of last year, aims to employ an additional 300,000 healthcare workers. However, unless significant changes are made to healthcare education and training, these goals may not be achievable, warned UUK in October.
A spokesperson for the Department of Health and Social Care acknowledged the importance of attracting young people to healthcare careers and highlighted the government’s investments and initiatives to increase the number of applicants and places for nursing and midwifery courses. They also mentioned the training grant and childcare support available for eligible students.
In conclusion, the survey results indicate that while a majority of young people have not ruled out a career in healthcare, concerns about working conditions are deterring them. Greater incentives, financial support, and more positive perceptions of clinical careers are needed to address these challenges and ensure a sustainable supply of healthcare professionals for the future.
