The number of student nurses, midwives, and paramedics entering Scottish Government funded degree programmes will increase this year.

Marking the ninth successive year in which numbers in these areas have increased, the rise for 2021/22 will mean a recommended intake of 4,449 nursing and midwifery students for the upcoming academic year, up 243 places from 4,206 in 2020/21.

n recognition of the mental health and wellbeing impacts from the coronavirus pandemic, the Scottish Government says that mental health nursing will see the largest percentage increase this year to a recommended intake of 740 places, up 13 per cent from the previous year, and 76 per cent over the course of this Parliament.

Further increases in student intakes to support sustainable workforce numbers also include midwifery, which will increase to 287 places, up 6.3 per cent from 2020/21, as well as paramedic science, which will increase to 300 places, up seven per cent from last year.

Health Secretary Jeane Freeman said: “I am pleased to report that student intake numbers in nursery, midwifery, and paramedic science will continue to increase this year. Staffing in our NHS remains at a record high level following eight consecutive years of growth, but as we remobilise NHS services, we must keep looking to the future and plan ahead for the next generation of Scotland's healthcare workforce.

“This includes a significant expansion in the mental health nursing intake, recognising the additional support that will be required to address the mental health and wellbeing impacts from coronavirus across Scotland. The pandemic has shone a spotlight on the integral role of nurses, midwives and paramedics but it is just another example of the essential care they provide for Scotland’s population on a daily basis. I am deeply grateful to them for all the work they do, and I commend everyone who is studying for a career in these essential roles, or applying to, in these challenging times.”