The NHS in London has issued a rallying call to those receiving their A-Level results tomorrow (Thursday 13^th August) to join the thousands of their peers who have already applied to study nursing in London this year.

NHS staff including nurses have pulled out all the stops to treat London’s COVID-19 patients across all areas of care, from delivering lifesaving treatment at hospital to supporting vulnerable Londoners isolating at home.

Martin Machray, Joint Chief Nurse for the NHS in London said:

“Over the last six months our communities have seen the crucial role played by NHS nurses in the fight against coronavirus. Across the capital, nurses have been there for people when they have needed it most – in hospitals, health clinics and in our neighbourhoods. We have all seen the breadth of career opportunities available to nurses, from the bedside to the research laboratory.

Two things are for sure in these uncertain times we will always need nurses and nursing will always need the very best people to take up this rewarding career. So think about choosing a nursing career in London. It is hugely rewarding and vital to the health of our city”

Figures from the Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) show a surge in applications for nursing degrees amongst all ages across the UK — up by 16% year-on-year to 47,320 by the end of June – with the increase attributed to the leading role nurses have played in the country’s response to COVID-19.

With many degree places available across over 50 different nursing courses at London universities, grants between £5,000 and £8,000 per year, starting salaries of £24,900 with additional pay of up to 20% for roles in London and no shortage of jobs when qualified, the NHS in London is seeking to highlight nursing in the capital as a strong career choice.’

A nursing degree is just one of the ways to enter into a career in the profession. With the government announcing an extra £172 million of funding for apprentice nurses in England this week*, nursing is now an even more accessible option. Apprentices complete a four-year training course while working in the NHS, earning a salary at the same time as earning a degree.

Tom Hill is currently training for his Nursing Degree Apprenticeship at Barking Havering and Redbridge University Hospital NHS Trust. He said: 

“I was a healthcare assistant in A&E and looking out for something that could help me fulfil my potential. The nursing degree apprenticeship was a brilliant opportunity because not only did it give me the skills I needed to care for patients holistically, but being able to receive a wage whilst training meant I didn’t have to put my life on hold. It also gave me a lot of motivation knowing that the hospital were investing in me and gave me the boost I needed to do the best I could for myself and my team.”

As part of the successful We are the NHS campaign, NHS England will be intensifying its targeting of those getting their A-Levels tomorrow, with direct emails to 50,000 people and ads on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Snapchat appealing to those entering the clearing system to apply for nursing degrees.

The campaign will encourage those going through clearing to search ‘Nursing Careers’ to find out more about the huge opportunities offered in modern nursing.