# Double medical training places by 2031 > “We’ll double the number of medical training places by 2031” > > — Rishi Sunak, Prime Minister, Conservative Party; Speech launching the NHS Long Term Workforce Plan, 30 June 2023 - **Status:** Funded - **Status ladder:** Promised → In plan → Legislated → Funded → Delivering → Delivered - **Policy area:** [Health](https://ledgergov.uk/promises/area/health) - **Speaker:** [Rishi Sunak](https://ledgergov.uk/actor/rishi-sunak), Prime Minister - **Party:** [Conservative Party](https://ledgergov.uk/actor/conservatives) - **Made on:** 30 June 2023 - **Where:** Speech launching the NHS Long Term Workforce Plan - **Deadline:** 31 December 2031 - **Cost a year:** No costing published - **Who it affects:** People training to be doctors in England, and the NHS patients they would go on to treat - **When:** By 2031 - **Paid for by:** Not stated when it was announced - **Quote source:** https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/pm-speech-launching-the-nhs-long-term-workforce-plan-30-june-2023 (checked word for word at its source on 21 October 2026; Open Government Licence v3.0) - **Last updated:** 21 October 2026 - **Card:** https://ledgergov.uk/promise/uk-medical-training-places-2031 ## 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. ## Timeline - 30 June 2023, Promised: Launching the NHS Long Term Workforce Plan, the Prime Minister says medical training places will double by 2031 - 30 June 2023, In plan: NHS England publishes the Long Term Workforce Plan, with medical school places in England to double to 15,000 a year ([evidence](https://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/nhs-long-term-workforce-plan/)) - 3 October 2023, Funded: The 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 ([evidence](https://www.gov.uk/government/news/expansion-of-medical-school-places-to-be-accelerated-to-next-year)) - 31 December 2031, Deadline (to come): Medical training places due to have doubled by 2031 (editorial date, end of 2031) ## 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". Costing sources: - [Prime Minister's Office: PM speech launching the NHS Long Term Workforce Plan, 30 June 2023](https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/pm-speech-launching-the-nhs-long-term-workforce-plan-30-june-2023) ## Sources - [Prime Minister's Office: PM speech launching the NHS Long Term Workforce Plan, 30 June 2023](https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/pm-speech-launching-the-nhs-long-term-workforce-plan-30-june-2023) - [NHS England: NHS Long Term Workforce Plan (30 Jun 2023)](https://www.england.nhs.uk/publication/nhs-long-term-workforce-plan/) - [Department of Health and Social Care: Expansion of medical school places to be accelerated to next year (3 Oct 2023)](https://www.gov.uk/government/news/expansion-of-medical-school-places-to-be-accelerated-to-next-year) - [Department of Health and Social Care and NHS England: 350 extra medical school places allocated in NHS training boost (13 May 2024)](https://www.gov.uk/government/news/350-extra-medical-school-places-allocated-in-nhs-training-boost) - [Department of Health and Social Care: 10 Year Health Plan for England: fit for the future (3 Jul 2025)](https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/10-year-health-plan-for-england-fit-for-the-future/fit-for-the-future-10-year-health-plan-for-england-accessible-version) - [Department of Health and Social Care: 10 Year Workforce Plan, call for evidence (26 Sep to 7 Nov 2025)](https://www.gov.uk/government/calls-for-evidence/10-year-workforce-plan) ## Checks - Verified by Pavel Guzhikov, checked by AI Journalist; approved on 21 October 2026. - Checked by AI Journalist (automated) on 21 October 2026. --- LedgerGov.UK's own writing (headlines, status notes, cost notes, summaries) is licensed under [Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 (CC BY 4.0)](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/): reuse it, crediting LedgerGov.UK with a link to the card. 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