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Nursing tops poll of most trusted profession for second year running

Nursing remains the most trusted profession in Britain for a second consecutive year, the annual Ipsos MORI survey has revealed

Nursing remains the most trusted profession in Britain for a second consecutive year, the annual Ipsos MORI survey has revealed


Nurses remain top of the trust poll. Picture: iStock

Out of 998 people surveyed, 94% said they trusted nurses, up one percentage point from 2016, which was also the first year nurses appeared on the list.

The second most trusted group was that of doctors, trusted to tell the truth by 91% of respondents.

To take part in the survey, people aged 15 and over were given a list of 24 different professions and asked 'would you tell me if you generally trust them to tell the truth, or not?'

Well-deserved achievement

RCN general secretary Janet Davies said it was 'a proud and well-deserved achievement' for the nursing profession.

Ms Davies said: 'The public is on the side of nurses, as they know nurses are on theirs – ministers would do well to remember that in the months to come.'


Picture: Ipsos MORI

'Time the government caught up'

However, she called for meaningful investment for nursing from government, in order to match public sentiment.

She said: 'It is time the political establishment caught up with the rest of the public and realised just how trusted and valued nursing staff are.'

'Government must expand training plans and improve nurses’ work and personal lives – warm words won’t pay the bills, or fix the shortages and allow for the highest care standards.'

Politicians and government ministers remain the least trusted group of people on the list.

Additions to the list

New professions added to the poll this year are weather forecasters and professional footballers.

Trust in journalists is now at a record high, with 27% believing reporters – excluding newsreaders who scored higher – tell the truth.

The police and professors have also seen increases, the former now experiencing record trust levels at 74%, up 13 percentage points since 1983.

The Ipsos MORI Veracity Index is the longest-running poll on trust in professions in Britain and has been carried out annually since 1983.


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