Save Nursing at Cardiff University

The Queen’s Nursing Institute is deeply saddened to hear of Cardiff University’s proposals to end the teaching of Nursing. It urges the University, the Welsh government, and Westminster government to explore options to keep the courses running.

There are currently over 800 undergraduate students studying Nursing at Cardiff and over 250 postgraduates. These significant numbers are essential to the qualified healthcare workforce in Wales and beyond. Without these graduates, the capacity of healthcare services will decline, future nurse education will be compromised, and individual and population health will suffer.

The University is contracted to deliver undergraduate education in Adult, Child and Mental Health nursing until September 2029. This gives stakeholders including Medr, HEIW and Welsh Government time to discuss alternatives to closure in detail with the University.

It is appreciated that Cardiff is in a difficult financial position and it is not alone among UK universities in facing multiple challenges. The recent change in National Insurance has added £7m to Cardiff’s wage bill, and the University has a major budget deficit. The UK government must do more to protect higher education, particularly where the fate of the domestic healthcare workforce is on the table.

Around half of all Registered Nurses work in a community setting – The QNI is undertaking research to establish a firm percentage. Governments of all UK countries want more care to be delivered in the community, but Cardiff’s proposals will have an immediate impact on the future workforce needed to deliver these long-term plans in Wales. This is a system-wide, and most importantly, a patient safety issue.

It is also noted that Cardiff is not delivering the postgraduate District Nursing Specialist Practitioner Qualification in academic year 2024/25, so there will be no new District Nurses qualifying from this two-year programme in 2026. Qualified District Nurses are essential in leading and delivering complex healthcare in the community, including palliative and end of life care, currently the subject of a national commission.

Cardiff’s proposals require consultation with lecturers, students and others affected. 80 academic staff deliver Nursing courses at the university. The QNI would encourage all those affected by the proposals to express their views.

Petitions

There are currently two petitions online. Please add your name if you haven’t already:

Change.org: https://www.change.org/p/save-cardiff-university-school-of-nursing

Welsh Assembly: https://petitions.senedd.wales/petitions/246498