Letter: Why doesn't society value nurses any more?

I was glad to see you highlighted the issue of the housing crisis facing nursing (Nursing Standard August 3).
The situation has never been this dire. Many years ago when I applied for a mortgage the building society manager said to me: Of course the answer is yes. Youre a student nurse one day Ill need you!
NHS staff were valued in those days. So why dont people think like that any more?
Nurses deserve decent, affordable accommodation in reasonable travelling distance of where they work.. So what are we going to to about it? I think we need a full scale campaign on this issue whos with me?
Zeba Arif
Retired nurse
I was glad to see you highlighted the issue of the housing crisis facing nursing (Nursing Standard August 3).
The situation has never been this dire. Many years ago when I applied for a mortgage the building society manager said to me: ‘Of course the answer is yes. You’re a student nurse – one day I’ll need you!’
NHS staff were valued in those days. So why don’t people think like that any more?
Nurses deserve decent, affordable accommodation in reasonable travelling distance of where they work.. So what are we going to to about it? I think we need a full scale campaign on this issue – who’s with me?
Zeba Arif
Retired nurse
Want to read more?
Subscribe for unlimited access
Enjoy 1 month's access for £1 and get:
- Full access to nursing standard.com and the Nursing Standard app
- Monthly digital edition
- RCNi Portfolio and interactive CPD quizzes
- RCNi Learning with 200+ evidence-based modules
- 10 articles a month from any other RCNi journal

This article is not available as part of an institutional subscription. Why is this?
