The UK’s leading nursing union is demanding the Government provides a support package to help tackle “rapidly deteriorating” recruitment numbers.
With the upcoming March Budget announcement merely a few weeks away now, the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) has penned a hard-hitting letter to Health Secretary Victoria Atkins calling for “urgent action” to address what it claims has been a significantly “large fall” in applicants to nursing degree courses in England.
The RCN says the Government “must” introduce an emergency package of measures to support nurse recruitment in the next Budget on 6 March.
The union‘s calls comes after new official figures from UCAS were released yesterday (15 February), which show a further sharp drop in applicants to nursing courses for the next academic year, all despite the Government’s Long Term Workforce Plan for the NHS.
New UCAS data shows a 26% collapse in the number of applicants to study nursing in England in just two years, a deeply concerning trend.
We've written to the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care to demand immediate action, read more ⬇️ https://t.co/6b62QO1aPz
The UCAS figures revealed there were just 24,680 nursing applicants to education providers in England this year, compared to 27,370 applicants in 2023, and 33,410 in 2022 – which represents a 10% fall in the last year, and a 26% fall in the last two years, according to the RCN.
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Because of these declining application numbers, the Union is now warning that it leaves the NHS Long Term Workforce Plan “in danger of falling off course”.
It also poses “a direct threat to the sustainability of the NHS and patient safety”, the RCN claims.
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The RCN says the fall in recruitment is underlined by a collapse in the number of mature students from the UK applying for nursing degrees offered by education providers in England, with this number having fallen by 11% in just one year, and has continued to trend downwards by falling from 18,980 in 2021, to 11,190 in 2024.
The RCN is demanding Government support to tackle ‘rapidly deteriorating’ recruitment numbers / Credit: RCN
“Historically, many have chosen nursing as a second career,” the RCN explained in its letter to the Government urging support measures.
RCN’s General Secretary and Chief Executive, Pat Cullen, said she is “deeply concerned” about the “rapidly deteriorating state of nurse recruitment” in her letter to the Health Secretary this week, and added that a failure to address these “critical issues” will eventually leave the health care system “dangerously understaffed” and “unable to meet the growing demands of patients”.
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Ms Cullen continued in her letter: “These latest figures expose a widening gap between the aspirations of the plan and the level of political effort required to make them a reality.
A 10% drop in nursing degree applications in England threatens patient safety, and risks making the NHS workforce plan unattainable.
“This needs immediate intervention and corrective action to protect patients now and in the future.
“A decline in applicants risks causing a cascading effect, with fewer students accepted onto nursing courses leading to diminished course cohorts and eventually lower numbers graduating and becoming registered nurses, so the UK Government must recognise the severity of this emergency.
“Immediate action must be taken to prevent further decline in nursing recruitment.
“We believe the current situation poses a direct threat to the sustainability of the NHS and patient safety, considering the existing 10.3% vacancy rate in nursing positions within the NHS in England.”
Featured Image – gov.uk
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Manchester United youngster Jack Fletcher apologises after red card for offensive language
Danny Jones
Manchester United academy player Jack Fletcher has issued an apology following his red card last autumn, having been sent off for using offensive language.
Jack – one of the two Fletcher twins and son of former Man United player and current coach, Darren – has been slapped with a six-match ban for a homophobic insult uttered on the pitch back in October.
The youngster and England youth player, who made his senior debut this past December, has also been fined £1,500 for calling another player “gay boy” in the under-21s side’s 5-2 defeat to Barnsley FC in the EFL Trophy.
Fletcher, 18, must now attend a mandatory face-to-face education as well. Following confirmation of the reasoning behind the dismissal, which was initially unclear, he has also shared an official statement apologising for his behaviour.
🚨 Jack Fletcher banned for SIX games following his red card at Barnsley in the EFL Trophy earlier this season.
He admitted to a charge that he acted in an improper manner/and or used abusive/and or insulting words to the match official.#MUFC
As shared via the Football Association (FA) and Man United, Fletcher said: “I am truly sorry for the offensive word I used in the heat of the moment. “I completely understand [that] such language is unacceptable and immediately apologised after the game.”
He also went on to say that “a momentary lapse of character absolutely does not reflect my beliefs or values”, insisting that he meant no offence to the queer community in the moment.
Fletcher told the FA that he’d been thrown to the floor in the fixture and that his Achilles had been ‘stamped on’ by the same opponent earlier in the knockout clash.
The disciplinary commission accepted his response, but still believed the six-match ban was required as sufficient punishment, which will be served in the youth ranks.
Should he ‘reoffend’ or fail to complete the compulsory training issued by the FA, he will face further suspension and more serious penalties.
In the aftermath of his apology, United’s officially recognised LGBTQIA+ fan group have also shared a reply of their own, adding: “We hope Jack learns from this and grows as a person and a player,” it said. His immediate regret and guilty plea suggest that he will.”
As for his employers, the club wrote online: “Manchester United has worked with Jack to strengthen his understanding of discriminatory language and why it is harmful.
“In addition to his ongoing participation in regular Academy programmes on diversity and inclusion, Jack will also take part in educational training through the FA.”
With Jack’s brother, Tyler, also having featured in the matchday squad for the men’s first team, and his dad, Darren, still currently coaching the U18s team, you can most likely still expect all the Fletcher boys to remain in United’s future plans.
Manchester reveals FREE programme of events to mark International Women’s Day 2026
Emily Sergeant
Manchester is set to mark International Women’s Day this weekend with a packed programme of free events.
In case you didn’t know, this Sunday (8 March) is International Women’s Day, with cities worldwide will be marking the important day in a series of different ways – and Manchester is no different.
Just as it chose to last year, the city has once again decided not to host its popular and once-annual ‘Walk For Women’ event, that used to see hundreds parade through the city centre in the name of equality, and instead organise a programme of events that both honour the importance of the event globally and this year’s theme.
Each year, International Women’s Day celebrates the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women, whilst also marking a call-to-action for accelerating gender equality.
Join us on Saturday 7 March at Central Library to celebrate International Women’s Day. 💜
Expect storytelling, performances, creative workshops, women’s history exhibitions, a keynote speech and more.
This year in Manchester, Manchester City Council is encouraging everyone to join for a community celebration co‑designed by local women, offering a space to appreciate women’s contributions, meet new people committed to lifting each other up, learn something new, get creative, and ultimately, find inspiration for the future.
Some of the events organised throughout the day – which will all take place at Manchester Central Library the day before IWD 2026 on Saturday 7 March – include a storytelling activity for women to share their personal stories, a special spoken word piece performed by a member of the IWD Co-design group, choirs and poetry performances, and even fireside ‘chats’ among other things.
There’ll also be a range of different events designed especially for mums and children, like the ‘Mums Matter’ wellbeing workshops, offering time to focus on your emotional wellbeing and mental health, and children’s drop-in sessions.
Manchester Central Library is hosting a wide range of IWD 2026 events this weekend / Credit: The Manc Group
You can also expect a selection of stalls by commissioned services and partner organisations promoting different services, and a period product donation point to tackle period poverty across Greater Manchester.
Everybody is invited to celebrate International Women’s Day in Manchester, not just women, and even children are able to attend some of the events too, as people of all ages are welcome.
Manchester’s International Women’s Day 2026 celebrations are taking place throughout the day on Saturday 7 March, and you can find out more and book here.
Emily Sergeant -
16th February 2024 
