Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, with reference to the press release by NHS Health Education England entitled New blended learning nursing degree to focus on community, primary and social care skills, published on 17 May 2023, how the academic curriculum will be chosen for that degree; and whether nurses working in (a) community, (b) primary and (c) social care settings will be consulted in the development of the curriculum.

The standards for education and training of registered professionals such as nurses are the statutory responsibility of healthcare regulators.

The curriculum for the proposed blended learning degree will be in line with the Nursing and Midwifery Council's Future Nurse: Standards of proficiency for nurses, available at the following link:

https://www.nmc.org.uk/globalassets/sitedocuments/standards-of-proficiency/nurses/future-nurse-proficiencies.pdf.

The programme for the blended learning degree was shaped with input from experts and practitioners in community, primary and social care sectors, as well as the Nursing Midwifery Council, National Health Service employers, an expert by experience and a nursing student, through an advisory group that still meets to provide ongoing support to the universities in developing and delivering their curricula.

NHS England also sought evidence and assurance that the successful universities will have local partnerships with community, primary and social care staff to shape and deliver their curricula.