England’s most senior nurse has called on NHS organisations to boost the number of nursing apprenticeships they offer to local people, to help deliver the health service’s Long Term Plan to improve patient care.
Almost 1,800 new nursing apprentices have already started their training over the last couple of years – but NHS chiefs want thousands more to be given the opportunity to earn while they learn. England’s Chief Nursing Officer, Ruth May met 17 nurses in Cambridge who are among the first in the country to complete their qualifications through the scheme.
The new NHS recruits are given a triple package of on-the-job training, free tuition fees and an annual wage, meaning people of all ages have a chance to earn while they learn to provide care.
Increasing nursing apprentices is just one part of a national recruitment campaign, which aims to deliver the Government’s commitment to increase the nursing workforce in England by 50,000.
Ruth May, chief nursing officer for England, said: “The NHS is providing world class care for more patients than ever before, and to carry on doing that we need 50,000 more nurses. Boosting the number of nursing apprentices is one important way we can achieve that goal, and as we deliver on our NHS Long Term Plan we want local health service employers to ramp up the number of opportunities they offer to people in their areas.”
Health Secretary Matt Hancock said: “Apprenticeships are a fantastic way for people to kickstart their career in healthcare and offer a flexible, alternative route into nursing where you can earn as you learn. Boosting the number of apprentices is an important step towards delivering our commitment to have 50,000 more nurses by 2024/25, and I want to see every Trust doing their part to help us achieve that.
“I’d like to welcome the thousands who have joined our NHS from all ages and backgrounds since the nursing apprenticeships were introduced, and hope to see many more starting over the coming years.”
The NHS is determined to invest in home grown talent with plans to go much further over the coming year as part of the International Year the Nurse and Midwife 2020, marking the 200th anniversary of Florence Nightingale’s birth.
In guidance published by NHS leaders recently, local organisations were asked to review their workforce plans for the coming year and ensure apprenticeships form part of them, making full use of the apprenticeship levy.
