New figures released today show the number of applications to undergraduate nursing courses this year is a third higher than last year. UCAS has received 48,830 applications to nursing courses in England, up from 35,960 at the same point in 2020, representing a 34% increase.
Central Devon MP Mel Stride who has actively promoted NHS recruitment campaigns, including ‘We are NHS’ and ‘Care for others. Make a difference’, said:
“This increase is remarkable and a very good sign for the NHS. The Government deserves credit for making the profession more attractive with significant pay rises for many nurses over the past 3 years, the introduction of a new training grant for eligible nursing, midwifery and paramedic students of at least £5,000 a year and extra schemes such childcare support for nursing students.”
Cllr. Sarah-Parker-Khan, Chair of Ashburton & Buckfastleigh Hospital League of Friends, whose stepdaughter recently qualified as a nurse, added:
“These new figures are really good news. We need to strengthen our local Community Nursing teams in rural counties like Devon to be able to provide more care in peoples’ homes and this begins with increasing the overall number of well-trained nurses.”
The increase in applications to nursing courses means that that Government has taken another step closer to delivering 50,000 more nurses for our NHS by the end of this parliament – a manifesto commitment made at the 2019 General Election.
