Union says 65 final-year students left without vacancies despite training in local hospitals
THE Royal College of Nursing (RCN) has hit out at Swansea Bay University Health Board (SBUHB) after it emerged that 65 final-year adult nursing students — due to qualify in March 2026 — currently have no jobs to apply for.
The revelation comes despite most of the students completing more than two-thirds of their clinical placements in Swansea Bay hospitals.
Helen Whyley, Executive Director of RCN Wales, said:
“These students have studied locally, contributed to patient care, and were assured that their skills would be in demand. The lack of posts feels like a slap in the face and risks damaging morale at a critical point in their careers, as well as destabilising future recruitment into nursing.”
It is understood that the health board has introduced a partial vacancy freeze because of financial pressures. The decision effectively blocks newly-qualified nurses from employment at the very point they complete their studies — even as NHS Wales continues to warn of chronic staffing shortages.
RCN Wales confirmed it is working with Swansea University and seeking urgent clarification from Health Education and Improvement Wales (HEIW), the health board and the Welsh Government. The union is calling for an immediate review of workforce planning and job availability, and assurances that bursary-funded students will not be disadvantaged by system failures.
Ms Whyley added:
“The glaring contradiction between urgent calls to tackle nursing shortages and the lack of meaningful opportunities for new graduates demands immediate action. If we are serious about safeguarding the future of our healthcare system, this disconnect must be resolved — not eventually, but now.”
The RCN, which represents around 30,500 members in Wales, has warned that if these graduates cannot secure posts locally, many could be lost to other parts of the UK or to the private sector.
Local contrast: jobs still open in Hywel Dda area
For Pembrokeshire readers, there is a more positive picture under Hywel Dda University Health Board (HDUHB), which continues to advertise a range of nursing vacancies across its three counties.
While Swansea Bay has frozen recruitment for new adult nurse posts, Hywel Dda’s official careers listings currently include:
- A Registered Nurse – Health Visiting (Band 5) post based in Pembrokeshire, closing on 2 November 2025.
- A Community Nurse (Band 5) post in Pembroke Dock, offering full- or part-time hours in adult community care.
This contrast raises questions over consistency in workforce policy across Wales. If one health board is halting recruitment while another is hiring, it suggests uneven implementation of the national nursing strategy — and potentially unequal opportunities for graduates depending on where they trained.
RCN Wales says it will continue pressing for answers on how workforce planning can be better coordinated to ensure new nurses in all regions have fair access to NHS employment.
