| answer text |
<p>There are almost 16,000 more nurses on our wards since May 2010. The Department
has put in place significant actions to boost the supply of nurses, ranging from training
more nurses, offering new routes into the profession, enhancing reward and pay packages
to make nursing more attractive and improve retention, and encouraging those that
have left to return to nursing. In 2018, NHS England and Health Education England
ran an extensive communication campaign ‘we are the NHS’ which was focused on highlighting
the positive image of nursing as a career.</p><p> </p><p>The Department has made available
funding for up to 5,000 additional clinical placements for nursing degrees in England.</p><p>
</p><p>Apprenticeships play a key role in ensuring the National Health Service has
a future workforce, and the Department is committed to broadening routes into nursing.
For the first time we now have a complete pathway of apprentice standards into nursing,
from entry level Healthcare Support Worker, to Nursing Associate and onto the Nurse
Degree Apprenticeship and Advanced Clinical Practice.</p><p> </p><p>The latest data
from the University and College Admissions Service (UCAS) shows that there has been
a 4.5% increase in applicants to nursing or midwifery courses at English universities
when compared to this time last year, 2018<sup>1</sup>.</p><p> </p><p>The NHS Long
Term Plan, published on 7 January 2019, sets out a vital strategic framework to ensure
that over the next ten years the NHS will have the staff it needs. This will ensure
that nurses are able to offer the expert compassionate care that they are committed
providing.</p><p> </p><p>My Rt. hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Health and
Social Care has commissioned Baroness Dido Harding Chair of NHS Improvement, working
closely with Sir David Behan Chair of Health Education England, to a programme of
work to develop a detailed workforce implementation plan. These programmes will consider
proposals to grow the workforce, which will include growing the nursing workforce
in order to ensure that the NHS has a sustainable supply of future nurses.</p><p>
</p><p>Note:</p><p><sup>1</sup>Latest UCAS data received 7 February 2019 shows that
34,030 people from all domiciles have applied to study nursing and midwifery courses
at English universities, as at 15 January 2019.</p><p><strong> </strong></p><p> </p><p>
</p>
|
|
