Chesterfield MP Toby Perkins has warned that Government failures are forcing training providers to turn away nursing applicants even as the NHS warns of nearly 50,000 nursing vacancies.

In his role as Shadow Skills Minister, Toby met staff and learners on a visit to Reading College with local Labour MP Matt Rodda, to hear about the work being done to train-up the next generation of nurses. Reading College acts as a hub for an online access to nursing course, attracting mature students to train to become nurses.

However, despite being oversubscribed for the past two years, the government’s inflexible funding system has forced providers to turn away 500 nursing applicants, even as the government aims to recruit 50,000 more nurses.

Toby said: “It has been wonderful to visit Reading College, and to meet staff who are passionate about training the next generation of nurses, ensuring people have the security of knowing the next generation of NHS heroes will be there when we need them.

“This is exactly the kind of course that the government should be supporting, yet providers are being forced to turn away willing recruits.

“This highlights how the government’s approach to skills shortages is failing to deliver for our country.”