Newcross News Issue 10
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MIND THE GAP | STUDENT NURSES<br />
“Only 33,8<strong>10</strong> people<br />
in England applied for<br />
nursing-related courses:<br />
down 23% on last year”<br />
and rewarding them for their contribution. Fair pay,<br />
ongoing support and flexible working have always<br />
been sacrosanct at <strong>Newcross</strong>. Sadly, many employers<br />
and agencies fall short in this regard. There’s<br />
also a pressing need to actively encourage more<br />
applications to nursing degrees, in the same way<br />
that HM Armed Forces have refocused their efforts<br />
to attract new recruits. This would surely demand<br />
collaboration and investment from the Departments<br />
for Education and Health.<br />
Fewer students training to be<br />
nurses means that more people<br />
will wait longer for care<br />
By 15th January 2017 – the key deadline for<br />
university applications for courses starting in the<br />
autumn – UCAS reported that 33,8<strong>10</strong> people in<br />
England had applied for nursing-related courses,<br />
including midwifery. This was down 9,990 (23%) from<br />
43,800 at the same point last year.<br />
It seems reasonable to expect this drop will translate<br />
directly into fewer people starting nursing degrees,<br />
which means the skills gap will continue to grow,<br />
unless action is taken. The removal of bursaries is<br />
perhaps the most significant single factor, but it is by<br />
no means the only one. Additionally, demographic<br />
shifts in the UK population, growth in the labour<br />
market (and wages) and uncertainty about the<br />
outcomes of leaving the EU have created a ‘perfect<br />
storm’ for nursing.<br />
Industry-funded schemes to support undergraduate<br />
student nurses should also be explored, emulating<br />
initiatives in other sectors such as engineering, where<br />
scholarships and bursaries are common.<br />
Finally, it’s impossible to avoid the elephant in the<br />
room. Financial support from central government is<br />
currently given to attract great people into teaching.<br />
Nursing is no less essential. Few would disagree<br />
that neglecting this profession will result in longterm<br />
costs for the UK that far outweigh the price<br />
of helping our next generation of nurses to train.<br />
Government central funding<br />
is essential to entice people<br />
onto nursing courses<br />
Inevitably, the discussion about this challenge is<br />
clouded by political debate and ideology. But we’re<br />
past the point when rhetoric is useful. We need action.<br />
In the first instance, we need to re-double our efforts<br />
to keep nurses nursing by recognising their expertise<br />
www.newcrosshealthcare.com | newcrossnews | 11
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