Responding to the latest UCAS figures showing a further fall in the acceptances onto nursing degree courses, Executive Director of RCN England Patricia Marquis said:
“Only this week the former chief nursing officer said the removal of the nursing bursary was a ‘catastrophic decision’. Now, the new government can right that wrong with a commitment to nurse education, including funding of tuition fees and ensuring every recent graduate of nursing has a job, to attract and retain the nursing staff needed to deliver for patients.
“The continuing collapse in the number of people accepted onto nursing courses should act as a warning sign to government of the urgent need to act. Ignoring this now would be an act of abandonment at a time of crisis.
“The health secretary diagnosed a broken system and if he wants to succeed in his fundamental change of approach, this must start with the nursing workforce and attracting more people to the profession.
“As the health of millions of patients deteriorates while on waiting lists, tens of thousands of nursing posts remain vacant. The failure to attract more into nursing puts the profession and the future of patient care at risk.”
Ends
Notes to editorsIn England, according to the latest figures from UCAS released today (19 September), the current number of acceptances (18,420) is a slight fall of 2.4% on last year (18,870), a significant fall of 21.6% from 2021 (23,490) but a 2.6% rise against 2019 (17,950).
The latest University and College Admission Service data was published earlier today and can be found here
