The new government’s campaign slogan of ‘Change’ must include reforms to how the NHS recruits nurses, according to the Royal College of Nursing (RCN), as new UCAS figures indicate another drop in the number of students accepted onto university courses for the upcoming academic year.
The total number of students accepted onto nursing degrees in England has dropped by a fifth (20%) in three years, with the overall number for 2024/25 coming in at just 13,870.
The RCN has renewed its call for government ministers to take action and make nursing careers more attractive through financial incentives, such as state-funded nursing degrees as well as the introduction of universal living maintenance grants.
The previous Conservative government ended the rule that saw nursing students exempt from paying tuition fees in 2016 – as well as other forms of financial support.
According to the RCN, this is something that has contributed to the collapse in the number of mature students being accepted onto courses – down by a quarter (24%) since 2021.
Patricia Marquis, executive director at RCN England, said: “Their rich life experiences make them [mature students] ideal for nursing, but they are being put off by massive debt and a system that provides little financial support for people who often have caring duties of their own.”
Fundamentally, the RCN believes that the nursing workforce crisis can only be resolved by making the profession more attractive through:
- Better pay
- Safer working conditions
- More investment in everyday nursing services
“Ministers must introduce proper financial incentives to make nursing a more viable option for students,” added Marquis.
“That must include government-funded degrees, universal living maintenance grants and action to improve pay and conditions for those who qualify.”
The RCN has previously put its support behind a student loan forgiveness scheme for nurses.
The RCN in England is currently in the midst of a consultation on the Agenda for Change pay award, which is open until mid-September.
RCN CEO, Professor Nicola Ranger, has said that nurses want the “same fair treatment” that doctors have received from the government.
She added: “We will be pushing government to show us their plans for improving NHS pay – it is vital to recruit and retain nursing staff, fill tens of thousands of vacant nurse jobs and give people the care they deserve.”
“The new government’s promise of change must include changing the way we recruit into our profession,” concluded Patricia Marquis, echoing this sentiment.
NHS England recently launched a campaign to encourage more people to choose nursing and midwifery careers.
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