Anas Sarwar sets out ‘train here, stay here’ policy for doctors and nurses

Labour is promising new plans to end the “scandal of poor workforce planning” in Scotland’s health service – with Anas Sarwar to unveil plans that would require medical students to work for the NHS for five years after finishing their training.

The Scottish Labour leader believes the “train here, stay here” policy could help tackle staffing shortages in the NHS.

Under new plans he will announce at Scottish Labour’s conference in Paisley on Friday, all medical, nursing and dental students who take up a funded place at a Scottish university would be expected to work in either the NHS or social care for five years after their training.

If they fail to do this, they could be liable to repay their tuition support and bursaries under the proposal.

Mr Sarwar will also pledge that a future Scottish Labour government would bring in a 10-year NHS workforce plan which would seek to align the number of university and training places available with future workforce needs.

Meanwhile, flexible working arrangements would be used to encourage more staff to stay in their jobs, boosting retention rates.

Speaking ahead of his party conference, Mr Sarwar said: “We will fix the SNP’s mess by ending the scandal of poor workforce planning.”

Adding that the Government’s “failure” on workforce planning is “letting down staff and patients alike”, the Scottish Labour leader said: “The NHS workforce is our greatest asset and a Scottish Labour government will treat it that way.

“We will back staff properly, improve retention through flexible working and make sure experienced professionals can stay in work for longer.

“We will also introduce a new 10-year NHS workforce plan, designed with the professions, so training, recruitment and career progression finally line up with Scotland’s needs.”

Setting out more of his plans, he added: “We need to go further. If Scotland pays for your training, Scotland should benefit from your skills.

“That is why we will change the rules so that Scottish medical, nursing and dental students on funded university places will be expected to work in Scotland’s NHS or social care system for at least five years after graduating, or repay their tuition support and bursaries.

“This is about fairness to taxpayers, fairness to patients and fairness to NHS staff who are too often stretched because the workforce simply is not there.

“Scottish Labour will end the sticking-plaster approach, plan properly, retain talent and make sure the people we train in Scotland can build their careers serving patients in Scotland’s NHS.”

However, the British Dental Association (BDA) criticised the “train here, stay here” proposal from Mr Sarwar – himself a former dentist.

Charlotte Waite, director of BDA Scotland, said: “Whoever forms the next government of Scotland should focus on making the NHS a place dentists would choose to build a career.

“The risk is this policy won’t keep a single experienced dentist in the NHS, and it just turns the service into a place you serve time before moving on.

“Ensuring everyone in Scotland can access the dental care they need requires a fully funded and fully costed NHS dental workforce plan.”

Health Secretary Neil Gray said: “NHS Scotland staffing is at a record high and much of what is being discussed here is already being taken forward.

“We are already testing a return of service bursary, entitling students to four years’ worth of bursary payments totalling £16,000 with a requirement to work in Scotland for a corresponding number of years following graduation.

Work to plan Scotland’s Future Medical Workforce Project is progressing, and today I met with stakeholders, including BMA Scotland and the General Medical Council, to discuss the next phase.

“We are investing £14 million in specialty training places and increasing investment to expand foundation year training to support those who graduate from a Scottish medical school to stay here.”