Health education summit bids to stem decline in college enrolment numbers

A summit on the recruitment crisis facing learning disability nurse education in England is to be held

Organised by the Council of Deans of Health, and due to be held on 31 July at the RCN headquarters in London, the event is a response to calls earlier this year from members of the Learning and Intellectual Disability Nursing Academic Network (LIDNAN).

It is a response to figures showing the numbers of students enrolling at university to become learning disability nurses has declined with some universities cancelling programmes because declining numbers make the courses unviable. There is also evidence that mature students are being put off applying due to the scrapping of the bursary.

Discussing recruitment crisis

Associate director of student education, school of healthcare, University of Leeds, Jo Lay explained: ‘The summit has been called by LIDNAN and the UK Learning Disability Nurse Consultants Network to discuss the current recruitment crisis. We have invited key stakeholders to share what work is being undertaken and seek a joint action plan in moving forward. 

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‘We hope that representatives from key groups will attend including people who have a learning disability and family carers.’

Figures show that the numbers of students enrolling at university to become learning disability nurses has declined, with some universities cancelling programmes because declining numbers make the courses unviable. 

Further information

FREE Learning Disability Nurse Education Summit