The Council of Deans of Health welcomes the RCN’s report on the nurse educator workforce in higher education in England published today. We were pleased that our members, who represent leaders in health education from universities and colleges, had the opportunity to contribute to this work. Many of our members are facing significant financial sustainability challenges, the implications of which are set out in this report.

Responding to the report, Ed Hughes, CEO of the Council of Deans of Health, said:

“A sustainable and properly supported academic workforce is essential to providing the health care professionals of the future. The RCN’s report highlights the challenges many of those working in nursing education are facing. Many of the issues raised in the report are a consequence of the financial sustainability challenges facing universities which brings pressure to reduce delivery costs and to increase student numbers. In thinking about the future workforce needs for our health system, it is vital that the recruitment and retention of the academic workforce which educates that workforce is fully considered. A joined-up approach to align the incentives to attract and retain academic educators is an essential component of an effective health education system. We will continue working with our members to support them in their increasingly complex work to educate the future health workforce.”