NHS employers wrote in a letter to education secretary James Cleverley that they had “serious concerns” about the plan, which they fear will exacerbate the health service’s acute staffing problems. BTecs are long-term qualifications that help young people find work as assistants in nursing, midwifery or allied health professions. Some of them later train to be fully qualified nurses, midwives, radiographers or occupational therapists. NHS employers are particularly concerned that the abolition of BTECs in 2024 and 2025, as part of a move to new T-level qualifications in a shake-up of post-16 education, will harm the NHS in England’s efforts to recruit enough nurses to help fill the nearly 40,000 vacancies it has for them. Danny Mortimer, chief executive of the organisation, told Cleverly in his letter that around a fifth of those studying for a nursing degree had done a BTec in health and social care. In 2017, for example, 7,120 of those taking nursing courses had already gained this qualification – 20% of the total. This was more than the 5,947 who had gained a degree after doing A-levels. “This shows that the course provides an effective route to nurse education for a significant number of people,” he said. In separate remarks, Mortimer said: “Abolishing these important BTec courses in health and social care is an incredibly short-sighted decision by the Government. “At a time when the NHS is already severely understaffed and has 105,000 vacancies, depriving the health service of a pipeline of new nurses, midwives and other healthcare recruits is so reckless and malicious it could well leave the NHS . as our colleagues in social care, with several thousand more vacancies in the coming years.” More than 100 NHS organizations from across England believe ministers “should not now end the delivery of this course, which nurtures and supports those who care about health and social care”, the letter says. Around 30,000 people are currently undertaking a BTec in health and social care, of which just under half are studying full-time. The Royal College of Nursing has urged Smart to carry out an “urgent review” of the plan. Its implementation was delayed after MPs and peers from different parties, as well as college bosses, criticized it. Dr Nichola Ashby, RCN deputy director for nursing education, research and ethics, said: “This is yet another example of the government making it harder, not easier, to practice nursing in England. There is a workforce crisis and every aspiring nurse is needed to safely care for patients. “BTec Health and Social Care courses… offer an opportunity to low-income and mature students who might otherwise be denied it.” The Department for Education has defended replacing BTecs with T Levels. “It is vital that qualifications meet the needs of employers and support more people into higher skilled, higher paying jobs,” a spokesman said. “Our health T-level has been co-created with employers, including the NHS, so that students gain the skills and experience they need to start roles in the health sector and progress to university and further study. We will continue to fund BTecs and other qualifications in the future where there is a clear need for them so that young people can access high-quality options.”
