Latest news with #UniversityOfNorthampton
Telegraph
10-07-2025
- Health
- Telegraph
‘The NHS is crying out for nurses, so why won't they hire us?'
As a little girl, Eleanor Pattison dreamt of becoming a nurse. 'I'm a caring person and I enjoy looking after my family and three brothers,' says Pattison, 22. 'My grandmother was a nurse, and I couldn't wait to follow in her footsteps. I've always known this was where my heart was at.' Pattison did work experience at the Cynthia Spencer Hospice in Northampton during the second year of her degree. 'I loved it,' she says. 'It was very moving to provide people with the best possible experience at the end of their lives.' But now, at the end of a demanding three-year course in adult nursing, Pattison finds herself without a job – and with no immediate prospect of one. 'Earlier this term, the university told us there was a recruitment freeze on jobs at Band 5, which is where graduate nurses start,' says Pattison. 'I had a meeting with my mentor in the spring: she told me that this was because of NHS budgets and that I should 'hang in there'. 'But for what? We've all gone into this to care for people and to be compassionate, but we aren't being met with the same attitude by our employers.' Of the 140 students in her University of Northampton WhatsApp group, says Pattison, not one of them has a job yet. They join thousands of graduating nurses from around the country who find themselves in this unprecedented position – all the more baffling as it's against a backdrop of staff shortages and growing NHS waiting lists. 'There are simply no jobs' The shortage of jobs comes as many trusts are facing financial pressures, thus reducing or even halting recruitment. Patricia Marquis is the executive director of RCN (Royal College of Nursing) England and a former specialist orthopaedic nurse. 'The procedure used to be that nurses were guaranteed a job at the end of their training and were given a list of positions to choose from,' she says. 'But this has changed. Finances are tighter and so there are recruitment freezes: when a nurse moves on, their vacancy isn't filled. Some trusts over-recruited last year because they knew nurses were leaving the NHS, so we are still feeling the knock-on from that.' At the RCN Congress held in Liverpool in May, student ambassadors were sharing their stories about being 'met with silence' during their job searches. 'This isn't an isolated experience; it's becoming the norm,' said Alex Knight, an RCN student ambassador. 'There are simply no jobs.' Knight revealed that some graduating nurses are being forced to find work in coffee shops. Even junior assistant roles are being affected. Millie Holley, 21, from Taunton, is in the final year of her nursing foundation degree, which will qualify her for Band 4 nursing jobs. 'After two tough years on this course I assumed I would leave with employment,' she says. 'But if you look on the intranet, there isn't a single job for my nursing band.' 'The Somerset Foundation Trust haven't given us a reason, but the lack of support is disappointing and feels personal,' says Holley. 'I've really started feeling upset, and led on. I'd like to say to the Government: we've done all this training with nothing at the end. What are we supposed to do with it? It's not like we don't want to work. Why is this happening?' According to Marquis, there was also a lot of anxiety among college leavers in 2024. 'Most of that cohort eventually got jobs,' she says. 'But I'm sorry to say that this year will probably be different.' Marquis reveals that recently she visited the NHS website for a 'snapshot' and saw there were only 500 jobs for 20,000 graduating nurses. 'I have to admit I was shocked,' she says. The situation has been exacerbated by the announcement last month that the Government is cutting funding for nursing courses – a move that risks undermining its pledge to end the NHS's reliance on foreign workers. Marquis points to a cycle of 'boom and bust' within the NHS. 'When I qualified in 1986, there were more jobs than there had ever been – and the year after: nothing,' she says. 'Sadly, we do run the risk of some recently qualified nurses leaving the profession this year.' Considering a career change The notion of a 'job for life' in nursing seems to be a thing of the past. Holley first started working on a hospital reception at the age of 17. 'When I told the nurses working at the clinic I fancied training to become a nurse myself, they told me to go for it,' she says. 'They said I would never be without a job, that I'd be able to travel the world. But a lot has changed in four years.' Similar difficulties have been experienced by Tabitha*, a trainee paediatric nurse who is coming to the end of her three-year training in the south-east of England. 'Jobs are normally advertised on the NHS website, but there's been a lack of ads this year,' she says. 'I've had one interview and was meant to hear back mid-May, but there's only been silence. 'I'm now on placement in the same trust, which makes things awkward. When this finishes at the end of August, I've no idea what I'm going to do. I'll have done the 2,300 hours of training that nurses have to do – what happens next? I can't plan my future or look at housing until I've found a job, so I may have to move back in with my parents. A few of my friends are looking at taking a year out – maybe I'll have to do the same. 'I've been trained to do nursing, and this is what I want to do with my life. The fact I'm having to consider switching careers because there aren't any jobs in nursing is absolutely heartbreaking.' In the past, nurses and healthcare assistants without permanent jobs could do 'bank' – or temporary – shifts, but even these are now being limited, or are taken by nurses from countries such as India. 'People are also having to accept work below their qualification level – for example, Band 7 nurses are being paid to do Band 5 jobs,' says Pattison. 'Our lecturers say we should continue to work voluntarily in the hope we'll be recognised, but that doesn't feel fair to me.' Pattison is now on a placement in a stroke assessment unit. 'I'm currently doing a 40-hour week, sometimes comprising four 12-and-a-half-hour shifts – I often work weekends and have little to no work-life balance,' she says. 'The work is unpaid. It's great experience and I'm learning a lot – but the work is difficult. I'm doing supervised medication rounds and helping with patient care: if someone needs help to be washed, I'm not going to say 'no'. But really, these are tasks I should be paid for.' So what is the solution? Marquis is working with NHS England, which she says is aware of the problem and that it needs to find answers. Retention is key. 'We need proper workforce planning – not just recruiting today but for the long term: for now, five years' time, 10 years' time,' she says. In November last year, the RCN warned the Government that patient care was under threat as there was a 'perfect storm' with more nurses leaving the profession and fewer joining. By the end of the next Parliament, it said, more than 11,000 nurses will have quit the Nursing and Midwifery Council register within 10 years of having gained their registration. Marquis adds: 'In medicine, they don't recruit for junior doctors, they recruit for consultants, and nursing should be the same.' Centralised recruitment, as opposed to the current set-up where each trust hires its nurses separately, would also help, she says. 'Nursing training needs to be funded properly – many students leave because they can't afford the programme and there's no time to do a part-time job,' says Marquis. 'They need a proper living grant.' She also points to the need for fuller staffing on wards, so that junior nurses are not overwhelmed. 'Perhaps junior nurses should also broaden their horizons away from NHS hospital care: there are jobs in the private sector, as well as social care: I started my career in a nursing home.' No jobs, but staff shortages: how does one square that circle? 'You cannot square the circle,' says an RCN spokesman. 'There are more than 26,000 vacant nursing posts in the NHS in England alone – so when a shift is short of staff it is often filled with agency staff.' And so, cash-strapped trusts continue to be run with under-capacity nursing. None of which will be helped by the risk of newly qualified nurses such as Pattison and Holley leaving the profession. 'Nursing is an amazing job and a privilege,' says Marquis. 'The world is your oyster, but we need our nurses to stay in the UK. If we lose people now, they will probably never come back and the Government really has to rush to affirmative action.' 'We need support' Marquis is right to be concerned. 'If this situation continues, I'll have to consider other career paths, which is heartbreaking,' says Pattison. 'This is all so disheartening. I am frustrated and demotivated: after working all these hours I feel let down and defeated. 'They say the NHS is crying out for nurses, but we can't even get our first posting. We feel unseen and unheard. We need support, and no one is offering it. It's devastating.' A Department of Health and Social Care spokesman said: 'It is unacceptable that some nurses are experiencing difficulties securing a role after qualifying. 'We are working closely with NHS England, employers and educators to improve transition into the workforce and will publish a refreshed workforce plan later this year, to ensure the NHS has the right people in the right places with the right skills. 'This Government is also investing in our nurses by delivering the second above-inflation pay increase in 10 months. That means that for the first time ever, a nurse will earn over £30,000 as a new starter. 'We can't undo a decade and a half of neglect in less than a year, but together with NHS staff this Government is rebuilding their pay and rebuilding our health service. Decisions about recruitment are a matter for individual NHS employers.' An NHS spokesman said: 'The NHS is working with employers, universities and regional nursing leads to ensure support is in place to help graduating nurses find a role as soon as possible – and we'd encourage any student with concerns to talk to their university, supervisor or assessor.'
BBC News
01-07-2025
- General
- BBC News
Northampton's Great Fire to be discussed at special event
A university is to hold a conference for people with an interest in learning more about a fire that destroyed most of a town in the 17th Great Fire of Northampton in 1675 destroyed 700 of the town's 850 buildings and claimed 11 lives.A programme of cultural events is being held to mark the 350th anniversary and the University of Northampton event on 4 July will provide a platform to discuss the university said the symposium, to be held between 10:00 and 16:00 BST at the Senate Building on its Waterside Campus, would look at the "emotional impact and legacy of such a monumental moment in the town's history". Talks from local historians will be held throughout the day and the conference will be free to enter but will require booking prior to the symposium is part of a five-month programme of events and activities to showcase the story of the fire and the rebuild that followed. Earl Spencer, who has written several historical books and co-hosts a history podcast, previously said that the Great Fire of Northampton "was more devastating than the Great Fire of London for its scale".The 1666 fire in London destroyed 80% of the Spencer said the fire in Northampton burned down almost "the entirety" of the county town."It's important for us to remember it – this was something that was an existential threat to a town," he said. Follow Northamptonshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
BBC News
22-06-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
University of Northampton student wins prestigious footwear award
A university student's footwear collection has been awarded a prestigious industry Blackstock-Brown, a footwear and accessories undergraduate at the University of Northampton, won first place in the sneaker/athleisure category at the Cordwainers Footwear Blackstock-Brown's winning collection, titled Dystopian Dreams, was said to have explored the "complex relationship" between dreams and Schaffer, a senior lecturer at the university, said "the whole team are absolutely thrilled for China following her award win". She said: "This award is the pinnacle of China's achievement – she set out from day one to win this award, so to take home the prize is testament to her determination, creativity and sheer hard work."Working with industry professionals to realise part of her collection has been an invaluable experience."We look forward to following China on her career path as it evolves." Ms Blackstock-Brown said she was "very surprised" to win the award and added that there were "a lot of talented" student final year student said: "My concept was based around nightmares."As a child I used to have really bad nightmares, so I thought it would be really cool to look at what happens and why we have them."The result was four pairs of shoes... all a bit bonkers".The designs were on display at a fashion show put on at the university which allowed graduating students of the fashion, textiles and footwear course – including China – to present their collections in front of family, friends, staff, students, the public and industry representatives. Follow Northamptonshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
BBC News
19-06-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Northampton student's bogeyman inspired by Billie Eilish song
A student who created a bust of a monster set to go on display said she was inspired by singer-songwriter Billie Eilish and an Oscar-winning make-up creation by Amy Spencer will be part of the Degree Show at the University of Northampton, which begins on at the Waterside Campus, the exhibition features work by the Faculty of Arts, Science and Technology students in their final Spencer, who is from the town, said she used "hyper-realistic effects to bring the look together". The student said she began studying hair, make-up and prosthetics at the university after taking up bodypainting during the Covid-19 said she was "really pushing my boundaries of make-up and truly discovering my passion"."I reached a point where I couldn't teach myself anymore, which was when I discovered the new course at the University of Northampton – and it was the best decision I've ever made," she Spencer said of her work: "I was inspired to create a bogeyman-inspired monster by a lyric from Billie Eilish – 'When we fall asleep, where do we go?'."The line features in song Bury A Friend, from the US musician's debut album."Everyone has a different image in their mind of what the bogeyman looks like, so I created a replica from my own mind." Alongside her studies, Ms Spencer also works with Rutland Musical Theatre. She was the make-up and prosthetic lead for a stage production of Shrek the Musical earlier this said she was helped by a session put on by the university with three-time Oscar winner Ve Neill."When Ve came to campus and led a prosthetics workshop on foam latex, I followed these exact steps for the promo shoot and on-stage looks of Shrek the Musical – I was so pleased with how they turned out," she Degree Show at the University of Northampton runs until Tuesday next week. Follow Northamptonshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
