Chief nurse tells COVID generation: ‘your NHS needs you’

England’s chief nurse is encouraging those receiving their A-Level results today (August 13) to apply to study nursing this year.

The health service is calling on young adults, dubbed the ‘Covid Generation’ due to the long term impact the virus is likely to have on their lives, to become nurses.

An NHS spokesman said interest in the field is already high; the number of young men in England who have applied for nursing degrees already is the highest for five years.

They are among more than 17,000 young people (20 and under) living in England who have applied to join a nursing degree course by June 30 – up around a sixth on 2018 – with a huge increase during the coronavirus pandemic

This year an estimated 80,000 students are expected to be part of the UCAS clearing process, which offers available places on degree courses for those who want to change their post A-Level plans for whatever reason.

Ruth May, chief nursing officer for England, said: ‘The last six months has seen nurses and midwives play a leading role in the fight against coronavirus, cementing the high esteem they are held in by the nation, so it’s no surprise that interest in nursing degrees is already high.

‘Uncertain times lay ahead, but one thing we can be sure of is that the country and the NHS will always need nurses, and that nursing will always offer a rewarding and varied career – making it a strong choice for any young people considering their options tomorrow.

‘Even if a COVID-19 vaccine is found the NHS will still need all the staff it can get to help deliver on our Long Term Plan to save more lives and improve the country’s health.

‘So whoever you are, whatever your background and wherever you want to go: your NHS needs you, so search ‘Nursing Careers’ today.’

More than 300,000 nurses work in the NHS in England, covering a wide variety of roles including children’s care, adults, older people, learning disability, mental health and cancer.

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