Labour is “failing students, NHS, and patients” says Plaid after university paramedic courses frozen amid job crisis

A Plaid Cymru candidate has branded Labour Government in Wales a ‘disgrace’ after paramedic university courses in Swansea and Wrexham were paused due to lack of job opportunities.

Health Education and Improvement Wales (HEIW) said in a statement today (20 April 2026) that the decision was the ‘most responsible step… to reduce competition for vacancies over the next few years’.
The news comes less than three weeks after newly qualified paramedics were told to apply for jobs abroad due to a hiring freeze within the Welsh Ambulance Service.

Carrie Harper, Plaid Cymru’s lead candidate in the Fflint Wrecsam constituency, criticised the Labour Government in Wales and said it was a “disgrace" that courses had now been stopped in addition to the recruitment freeze.

Ms Harper called the situation an “embodiment” of Labour’s failure on the NHS.

The news comes less than three weeks before the7 May Senedd election where Labour is expected to lose power in Wales, with Plaid Cymru leading the polls just ahead of Reform UK.

Plaid Cymru lead candidate in Fflint Wrecsam, Carrie Harper, said:
“This is a disgrace - not only that there won't be jobs for training paramedics, but that courses are now being stopped in train much needed paramedics for the future. It's an embodiment of Labour's failure when it comes to our NHS, proving once again that they've had no vision for its future, no workforce plan, and no joined up thinking to link healthcare staffing needs with training courses. Students are being failed, the NHS is being failed, and patients are being failed.

"A Plaid Cymru government will develop and strengthen the NHS workforce, with our new comprehensive national workforce strategy that is desperately needed. This way, we can ensure our NHS' staffing needs are met, strategically aligning the provision of courses with the staffing demands of health boards.

"Plaid Cymru is the only party that offers new leadership for Wales with real plans to support our NHS after it has been let down by Labour for so long."