Student Nurse Levels to Rise 3%

The number of student nurses and midwives starting training will increase by 3% this year, the Health Secretary has announced. There will be an extra 608 places for students starting such courses for 2015/16, taking this year's recommended intake to 3,038 students. The Scottish Government said the new places will sustain the "substantial increases'' to the workforce with the number of qualified nurses and midwives increasing by 4.2%, more than 1,700 full time staff, since 2006. In addition an extra £450,000 over three years will be provided for a Return to Practice scheme to encourage former nurses and midwives back into the profession, enabling around 75 former nurses and midwives to retrain each year and re-enter employment. Health Secretary Shona Robison announced this year's increase in places during a visit to South Grange Care Home Centre in Dundee where she met with students on placement. She said: "Our commitment to frontline funding for the NHS is clear. We are increasing the NHS budget, despite Westminster cuts, and we are increasing staffing levels. "We are not only increasing the numbers of qualified nurses and midwives in our hospitals now, we are also planning for the future. "That is why we have funded an increase in the number of nurses and midwives in training again this year by a further 3%, on top of the 6% increase the Scottish Government announced last year. This is the kind of careful long term planning and investment our NHS needs. "There is no doubt that there is pressure on our NHS as it rises to the challenge of dealing with an ageing population. However by working with partners, and investing in the future workforce, we can continue to ensure that our health service provides first class care for generations to come.'' The Scottish Government said it is the third successive rise in the number of places for trainee nurses and midwives. Trade union Unison Scotland welcomed the announcement. Matt McLaughlin, lead nursing organiser, Unison Scotland said: "Unison welcomes the Scottish Government's ongoing commitment to increase the number of student nurses trained each year in Scotland, despite continued financial pressure on budgets. "Our NHS continues to value professional nurses and midwives and this investment is a measure of that.''