Government, university, discuss expansion of nursing course

The government and the University are holding talks on how the intake of students for nursing and other health professions courses may be increased, the departments of health and education said in a joint statement today.

They were replying to a statement by the Labour Party yesterday that eligible students had found doors closed for the nursing course despite achieving the necessary qualifications after exam resits.

The departments said that all students who had the necessary qualifications by August 31 had been accepted to the nursing courses. Indeed, the number of admissions for the degree and diploma courses had been raised to 165 from 90 last year.

Students who were successful in their resits were being guided to be able to follow a range of health-related courses. The Institute of Health Care was this year providing 336 courses ranging from nursing to occupational therapy, midwifery and physiotherapy, and the number of admissions had been raised.

A number of students who had applied for the Diploma in Nursing course had not achieved the required six Ordinary Level passes but they would follow a proficiency test to establish whether they could still follow this or related courses, the departments said.