Whichever party forms the next Government after 12th December must announce an emergency funding package in its first Budget to help to attract more students to nursing degrees in England,’ the RCN has said.
In a letter sent to all party leaders, the organisation warns that there will be just over a month to reverse the decline. This is as theirs is a five week window to do so after polling day before the deadline to apply for nursing courses starting next September.
‘Reforms to the funding model in England of nursing higher education have failed to generate growth in student numbers,’ the letter states. ‘This imminent deadline offers a clear opportunity to change the status quo. In England, Government investment must be at least £1bn annually into financial support for nursing students, including living cost and tuition. Pledges to increase the number of registered nurses are best served by seizing this window to immediately attract more students to begin their education.’
The RCN is calling for emergency funding to address this, as applications to study nursing down 25% since bursary removed, creating huge pressures on the workforce.
‘Any new government must take decisive action within the first five weeks have a fighting chance of beginning to end nursing shortages across the UK,’ said Dame Donna Kinnair, Chief Executive and General Secretary of the RCN.