Health Minister Mike Nesbitt has announced a significant package of investment in Northern Ireland’s health and social care (HSC) workforce, with a major focus on expanding student training places for future allied health professionals (AHPs).
Importantly, this includes 93 pre-registration training places for occupational therapy in 2025/26. In 2024/25, the number of occupational therapy pre-registration training places was 65, representing a 43 percent increase.
This year, the Department of Health in Northern Ireland will commission 505 AHP pre-registration training places — the highest ever — alongside 1,065 nursing and midwifery places and 330 social workplaces. This expansion is part of an annual £160 million investment in workforce commissioning across all professions.
In addition to occupational therapy training places, there will also be an investment in speech and language therapy (56 training places) and physiotherapy (110 training places) for 2025/26.
The announcement forms a key part of the Department of Health’s ambitious three-year plan to stabilise, reform, and deliver a more sustainable and effective healthcare for everyone.
Minister Nesbitt said: “Our health and social care workforce are our greatest asset. Without their skill and dedication, there is no service. This plan is about stabilising the foundations of our system by investing in the people who will deliver care now and into the future.
“Despite the very real financial pressures we face, I have made it a priority to fund the expansion of our training pipeline over 2025/26 building upon the foundation of the sustained levels of investment over recent years which has delivered growth in the overall Health and Social Care Workforce of over 7,000 whole time equivalents in the last five years – a 11.2 percent increase over the period.
“This will not only help us meet rising demand but support the transformation of services particularly in primary and community care where AHPs play a vital and growing role.”
According to the Department of Health, AHP roles are critical to delivering care across hospital, community, and home settings and will help free up more experienced staff to take on advanced practice and leadership roles.
The total cost of the expanded workforce commissioning package is £2.12 million in 2025/26 and £3 million in 2026/27, which the Department of Health states will be met within existing budget baselines.
Commenting on the funded AHP training places in Northern Ireland, Policy and Public Affairs Lead for Northern Ireland at the Royal College of Occupational Therapists (RCOT), Cliona McSherry, said: “This is a huge investment in our future workforce and represents more than a 50 percent increase in training places.
“It’s a hugely significant step forward for occupational therapy in Northern Ireland and supports one of our key recommendations for growing the workforce. It’s particularly welcome given the financial challenges facing the Department of Health. Thank you to the Minister for this endorsement in the life-changing power of occupational therapy.
“Occupational therapists play a vital role in helping people manage long-term conditions and recover after illness or injury. With more demand than ever for these services, this investment by the Department of Health is a hugely welcome sign of support for the profession.
“We know that there is work to be done to make sure students are getting the right training and placements. We’re calling for every health and social care Trust in Northern Ireland to have a permanent and full-time Practice Education Co-ordinator to support student learning.
“Looking ahead, we need to keep growing the number of occupational therapists to meet rising demand. That means finding new and flexible ways for people to train and join the profession, so we have enough skilled therapists in the future.”
Kate Sheehan, a renowned occupational therapist (OT) and Director of The Occupational Therapy Service, has shared with AT Today what a typical day in the life of an OT looks like. Kate discusses what it is like to collaborate with major manufacturers to design meaningful assistive technologies based on customer feedback; how fulfilling it is to see clients regain their independence after a home adaptation; and tackling the challenge of taking a proactive rather than a reactive approach to adaptations.
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