Double medical training places by 2031
“We’ll double the number of medical training places by 2031”
- Funded
Where it stands
The NHS Long Term Workforce Plan, published the same day, set the target: medical school places in England doubled to 15,000 a year by 2031, from the 7,500 reached in 2020. His government then funded the first extra places: 205 for students starting in 2024 and 350 for 2025 to 2026. The government since July 2024 has not restated the target. Its 10 Year Health Plan (3 July 2025) says the NHS will have fewer staff by 2035 than the 2023 plan projected, aims any expansion of medical school places at schools that widen access, and promises a new 10 Year Workforce Plan; its call for evidence closed on 7 November 2025, and no such plan was on GOV.UK by 21 October 2026.
What has happened
- Jun 2023Launching the NHS Long Term Workforce Plan, the Prime Minister says medical training places will double by 2031, Promised
- Jun 2023NHS England publishes the Long Term Workforce Plan, with medical school places in England to double to 15,000 a year, In plan evidence
- Oct 2023The government funds 205 extra medical school places for students starting in 2024, a year earlier than the plan; 350 more for 2025 to 2026 follow on 13 May 2024, Funded evidence
- Dec 2031Medical training places due to have doubled by 2031 (editorial date, end of 2031), Deadline
About the cost
No separate figure for medical places. He said the plan's expansion of education and training for all NHS staff would be funded in full for its first five years, "with over £2.4 billion of additional investment".
More detail
Sources (6)
- Prime Minister's Office: PM speech launching the NHS Long Term Workforce Plan, 30 June 2023
- NHS England: NHS Long Term Workforce Plan (30 Jun 2023)
- Department of Health and Social Care: Expansion of medical school places to be accelerated to next year (3 Oct 2023)
- Department of Health and Social Care and NHS England: 350 extra medical school places allocated in NHS training boost (13 May 2024)
- Department of Health and Social Care: 10 Year Health Plan for England: fit for the future (3 Jul 2025)
- Department of Health and Social Care: 10 Year Workforce Plan, call for evidence (26 Sep to 7 Nov 2025)
How cards are checked
Status follows the promise standard, the same for every party. A status changes only on evidence. Anyone named on a card can reply, and replies are published next to it. AI Journalist is our automated reviewer: it re-reads every card against its live sources (the quote word for word, dates, evidence, status, cost, neutral wording, legal risk). An editor, Pavel Guzhikov, then checks each card against its sources and approves it.
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