STUDENTS should consider going into nursing, says the NHS’s top nurse, as figures reveal more than 150 positions available at East Lancashire Hospitals Trust.
Chief nursing officer for England Ruth May is urging pupils going through clearing to sign up for the profession, as the NHS seeks to push it as a ‘strong career choice in uncertain times’.
The recruitment drive comes after the Government announced £172million in funding to boost nursing apprenticeships to 2,000 a year as another route into the profession.
While nursing unions have welcomed the move, they say it does not go far enough and are calling for better pay, and for tuition fees for all nursing students to be scrapped.
NHS England figures show there were 172 nursing, midwifery and health visitor vacancies at East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust at the end of March, the latest period for which data is available.
They were among 4,791 unfilled roles across the North West.
According to the NHS, applications for nursing degrees surged 16% year-on-year to 47,320 by the end of June, with a “huge increase” in interest from those aged 20 and under.
Ms May said nurses have played a leading role in the fight against the coronavirus.
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