Nurses and Midwives: Numbers

Debate between Lord Tomlinson and Lord O'Shaughnessy

Monday 4th December 2017 Lords Chamber

[Lord O'Shaughnessy]

Retention is critical. A number of nurses have gone through return-to-practice programmes to make sure they can come back into the profession. I recognise that today’s UCAS data show that while the number of applications has risen among the under-21s, it has fallen among the over-21s. It is important to point out that financial support is available for those people, in terms of both help with childcare and extra financial support. Now, for the first time, we are providing funding for second degrees if they are in nursing.

[Lord Tomlinson (Lab)]

The Minister said clearly that he never misses an opportunity to say how much we value our nurses. Does he accept that “value” is best recognised in a tangible form rather than in words that have no meaning?

[Lord O'Shaughnessy]

I think that words do have meaning, and it is important not to miss the opportunity to say how much we value those nurses who have come from the European Union as well as all staff in the NHS. One example of the value with which we hold them is the announcement in the Budget that the Chancellor will fund an Agenda for Change pay settlement for nurses.