Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to attract more people, including those in the mid or late stages of their career, into the nursing profession.

Nursing degree students can access non-repayable grants of at least £5,000 per year, with further financial support available for childcare, accommodation, and travel costs. The Universities and Colleges Admissions Service’s data shows that the number of people aged 21 years old and over applying to nursing courses increased by 29% between 2019 and 2020 and a further 14% between 2020 and 2021.

In 2020, the blended learning nursing degree was launched to ensure those who may be unable to study in the traditional way can access routes into the nursing profession. We have also expanded nursing apprenticeships, including a pathway from healthcare assistant to registered nurse. In October, the National Health Service launched a national recruitment campaign to promote careers in nursing.