PARLIAMENTARY WRITTEN QUESTION
Nurses: Training (27 June 2019)

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, if his Department will take steps to reduce the barriers for individuals without classroom-based academic qualifications to train as nurses.

Asked by:
Sir John Hayes (Conservative)

The Department is fully committed to increasing the number of nursing apprenticeships. Working with the National Health Service we have created a complete apprentice pathway from entry level Healthcare Support Worker to Nursing Associate to Nurse and onto postgraduate advanced clinical practice in nursing. This will support people from all backgrounds to enter a nursing career in the NHS.

Apprentice nurses will complete the same nursing degree as fulltime university students.

Health Education England (HEE) is leading a national Nursing Associate programme with a commitment for up to 7,500 Nursing Associates to enter training in 2019. This expansion builds on HEE’s Nursing Associate programme which has already seen thousands start training in 2017 and 2018.

HEE is also working with employers to support the development of a pipeline of future trainee Nursing Associates by investing in functional skills in English and Maths. This is intended to support those individuals that would like to apply to become a Nursing Associate gain the necessary skills to be able to.

Answered by:
Stephen Hammond (Conservative)
5 July 2019