Cole-Hamilton responds to fall in nursing applications for third year in a row

Responding to the embargoed data from UCAS which shows that for the third year in a row the number of applicants for nursing courses in Scotland has dropped, down by 8.3% compared to the same point last year, Scottish Liberal Democrat health spokesperson Alex Cole-Hamilton MSP said:

“This worrying downward trend is part of a vicious cycle. If courses don’t fill up, existing staff come under greater pressure and more patients suffer. The SNP are putting the very future of our health service at risk.

“The complete failure by this SNP-Green government to recruit and retain staff stretches all the way back to Nicola Sturgeon cutting training places and claiming that was ‘sensible.’

“Neil Gray has his work cut out. He must completely overhaul the failed NHS recovery plan of his predecessors and do everything possible to promote nursing as a rewarding career.

“Scottish Liberal Democrats would deliver the safe staffing legislation that Parliament agreed years ago, as well as a plan to meaningfully tackle burnout among staff- a plan that the SNP and Greens were wrong to vote down when we previously brought it to Parliament.”