A multimedia blitz will seek to raise the profile of nursing as a worthwhile career by showcasing patients who have benefited from the skills and dedication of nurses. NHS England’s ‘We are the NHS’ campaign will use radio, social media and film advertising to portray nursing as a varied and rewarding role that can change people’s lives. It comes just after NHS figures showed the number of nursing vacancies in hospitals, mental health, community care and other services had reached 46,828 – the highest number ever. This means more than one in 10 nursing roles (11.8%) are unpaid across the service as a whole. While the NHS is short of almost every type of staff, service chiefs say the acute shortage of nurses is a key reason why so many patients are waiting so long for A&E, cancer treatment and other care. “Nursing is a life-changing profession where no two days are the same and I would encourage anyone with a passion for making a difference to people’s lives to consider a career as a nurse,” said Ruth May, NHS Chief Nurse England. Nurses make “an invaluable contribution to patients, the NHS and social care every day”, from carrying out tests and providing Covid and flu shots to helping patients get back on their feet after a spell in hospital , including surgery, he added. Patricia Marquis, director of the Royal College of Nursing for England, welcomed the campaign which highlights the nursing shortage. But, he added: “It’s all for naught until nursing staff are paid a fair wage. The only way to solve the workforce crisis and to recruit and retain nursing staff is to pay them fairly.” It is pushing ministers to allow nurses a 5% pay rise above inflation, which would mean a 15.1% rise. The union said last week that members on its ballot paper about possible industrial action in the coming months were voting for strike action. Voting closes on Wednesday. “There is anger and motivation like never before,” he added. Danny Mortimer, the chief executive of NHS Employers, welcomed the recruitment drive. But he added: “Health leaders remain, however, deeply concerned that the government has repeatedly failed to invest in the health and social care workforce. Archie Bland and Nimo Omer take you to the top stories and what they mean, free every weekday morning Privacy Notice: Newsletters may contain information about charities, online advertising and content sponsored by external parties. For more information, see our Privacy Policy. We use Google reCaptcha to protect our website and Google’s Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. “The pressures on social care are increasing, particularly as rates of pay fall further for social care staff behind the wider labor market. The need for the next Prime Minister to act to expand the number of staff training to work in health and social care is now critical and long overdue.” The Health Service Journal recently reported that a record number of NHS staff – almost 35,000 – voluntarily resigned from their posts between April and June this year, with “work-life balance” being the most common reason for doing so. Almost 40,000 nurses have left the NHS in the last year – again, the most ever – recent analysis by the Nuffield Trust. In 2019, the then prime minister, Boris Johnson, pledged to increase the number of nurses in England by 50,000 by 2024. The Department of Health and Social Care claims it is making good progress in meeting this pledge.
