Nurse apprenticeship scheme has offered me a route into dementia care

On leaving school two years ago, Megan Burrows had ‘absolutely no idea’ what she wanted to do.

But thanks to a place on one of the UK’s first integrated health and social care apprenticeship schemes, she is on a well-planned pathway to a nursing career. Ms Burrows’ decision to join a caring profession came after gaining a BTEC in media studies, then spending three months working as a volunteer in a remote Indian village.

She says: ‘Seeing how villagers’ health was affected by lack of clean water, sanitation and health care persuaded me to opt for a career that could make a difference to people’s lives.’

Megan Burrows on the ward at Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital with deputy director of nursing Padraig O Luanaigh