NURSING leaders told Health Secretary Wes Streeting today that plans to train thousands more GPs must include solving the causes of the nursing workforce crisis.

Mr Streeting has pledged to create a “transformed health service” after ordering officials to tweak the NHS workforce plan to address the staffing crisis.

His “refresh” will steer the plan towards training more GPs, community nurses and health visitors in order to support the services nearest to patients’ homes

Royal College of Nursing general secretary and chief executive, Professor Nicola Ranger said: “It should be the government’s first priority and will deliver better care for millions.

“Transforming care and shifting it into the community requires major investment. 

“Our analysis shows that crucial parts of the community nursing workforce, including health visitors and district nurses, are set to be half of what they were 20 years ago, while the number of people studying nursing has collapsed in every region in England.

“The government’s reforms must come with a plan to rescue the largest NHS workforce. 

“This means better pay and a loan forgiveness model to boost recruitment into the profession.”