Continuous professional development (CPD) plays an important role in the healthcare sector to ensure that workforce competency is maintained and to allow individuals the opportunity to expand their skill sets.

However, Health Education England (HEE), the public body responsible for training and workforce development in the health sector, has had its funding cut by 20%, which critics believe could endanger CPD opportunities for post-registration nurses.

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96% less EU nurses are registering to work in England

This budget cut follows the news that 96% less EU nurses are registering to work in England, suggesting that more change is coming for the healthcare workforce.

It’s not the first time

Back in 2016, it was feared HEE’s decision to reduce workforce development funding to Local Education and Training Boards (LETBs) by almost half may harm the improvement of NHS services.

HEE funds part of its CPD activities through these LETBs, and the boards either provide trusts with an overall CPD budget to spend with universities to deliver training, or they can spend the funding directly with universities.



With the 20% cut to funding this year, it may mean that courses which historically, the HEE’s CPD budget funded, have to be paid for by healthcare professionals themselves. Some of these courses include:

  • Diploma level courses in diabetes care and leg ulcer management 
  • Modules in managing critically ill patients 
  • Modules in autonomous nursing practice in A&E
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every client has different needs.. which is why we also provide a selection of bespoke training solutions, tailored to your individual needs.

What will this mean for healthcare employers?

Representatives from HEE have previously stated that actually, offering up-to-date and effective CPD training is actually more the responsibility of an employer, not HEE itself (Rob Smith’s comment on the Council of Deans Report, 2016). So, to ensure that your workforce remains ready to provide the highest level of care despite these funding cuts, Randstad Care offers a range of training programmes which can help. 



We offer a selection of practical courses, e-learning modules and specialist training on areas, such as emergency first aid and autism, dementia and epilepsy awareness. We also understand that every clients has different needs when it comes to learning and development, which is why we also provide a selection of bespoke training solutions, tailored to your individual needs.