Health Secretary Vaughan Gething has announced his intention to establish a new body to oversee strategic workforce planning, workforce design and education commissioning for NHS Wales.

The working title for this organisation will be Health Education Wales (HEW).

The announcement is the culmination of the work taken forward through the, the Health Professionals Education Investment (HPEI) review, led by Mr Mel Evans OBE, which was published in April 2015. It also takes account of the next steps report, undertaken by Professor Robin Williams CBE, FRS – to scope potential models for consideration prior to final decision being made about timescales for implementation

Overseen by an impartial Board, the new body will deliver a national co-ordinated approach to delivering workforce education and training to meet the specific geographical needs of Wales.

The Welsh Government expects the body to be in place by 1 April 2018.

Vaughan Gething said:

“The workforce is the beating heart of the NHS in Wales. The new body I’ve announced today, (Nov 10.),  will create an environment in Wales which builds a culture that supports learning in the working environment, attracting and retaining the best people possible, on a cross Wales basis.

I am confident this is the right approach for Wales and I now intend to put arrangements in place to enable Health Education Wales to be delivered.”