Currently, half of new doctors and nurses have to be recruited from abroad as the UK supply route has struggled to keep up with demand.And without action, this could rise to 360,000 by 2037, modelling for the plan suggests.
"It gives us a once-in-a-generation opportunity to put staffing on a sustainable footing for years to come," she added.The targets for 2031 include:a 50% increase in GP trainee places for junior doctorsIn the next five years, the proportion of NHS staff, including physios, podiatrists and maternity staff, trained through apprenticeships - combining paid work with study and no tuition fees - will double, to one out of every six.
"We are learning the ethos of the NHS and getting to know how our patients want to be looked after," she says."I've got children and a house to run," Ms Petters says. "The security is really important and has enabled me to pursue a career in the NHS."There will also be a major drive on retention - including more flexible-working options and career development to provide clear routes to senior jobs. Last year, a record more than 40,000 nurses left the NHS.
And he warned the "dismal reality" of working in the NHS at the moment could undermine the push to tackle shortages in the long term.