Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to reduce delays between qualification, professional registration, and commencing employment for newly qualified nurses and midwives.

As set out in the 10-Year Health Plan, we are working with higher education institutions (HEIs) to set a standard for the confirmation of course completion, so that newly qualified nurses can begin work as soon as they are able. This work is due for completion by September 2026.

NHS England, the Nursing and Midwifery Council, the Council of Deans for Health, and HEIs are also working closely together to improve data sharing and significantly streamline registration processes to enable a smoother transition for newly qualified nurses and midwives into their first roles. NHS England continues to monitor this to ensure these improvements are maintained.