ABERYSTWYTH. After a year in which many newly qualified nurses across the UK struggled to find their first job, Wales has some good news: 253 new nurses have secured posts across NHS Wales.
- Every nursing graduate from Bangor University has secured a post in NHS Wales, according to Siân Gwenllian MS.
- Every nurse who graduated from Aberystwyth University this summer has also found NHS employment.
- The Health Minister visited Aberystwyth University on 19 October to mark the milestone.
How it happened
A summit in June brought together health boards, universities, Health Education and Improvement Wales (HEIW) and the Welsh Government to match graduates with posts.
Why it matters
The UK has a nursing shortage, yet many graduates have struggled to get a first post because of recruitment freezes. Wales shows that planning training places and jobs together works. Unions argue the same approach should be used across the UK, especially with the RCN warning that new nurses can graduate with up to £50,000 of debt.
Source: Cambrian News (21–24 October 2026).