For decades the University of Nottingham has nurtured thousands of talented nurses who have gone on to serve the NHS and private sector across the region and the country. The recent proposals to suspend - and possibly cut - Mental Health Nursing, Child Nursing, and Health Promotion & Public Health courses poses a serious threat to the future of healthcare in our region. We call on the University of Nottingham to reverse this decision - investing in these courses is an investment in the health of the nation.

These cuts threaten not only the future of aspiring healthcare professionals but also the health and well-being of countless individuals who rely on quality mental healthcare services, services for children’s health from birth to adulthood and wider critical interventions in public health throughout Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire & the wider Midlands area.

Children’s and Mental Health nurses serve some of the most vulnerable individuals in our communities - children, young people, and those experiencing mental illnesses. Reducing these courses will limit access to specialist, compassionate care at a time when demand for such support has risen to critical levels throughout the UK.

The University of Nottingham has long-standing excellent partnerships with local and regional NHS Trusts, private providers and other health services - they provide the placement elements of our future nursing workforce in their clinical settings and our students then often go in to work locally or regionally. Cutting these programmes threatens the sustainability of the workforce, making recruitment even harder for hospitals, community services, and mental health trusts.

Nursing graduates contribute not only to patient care but also to the economic and social wellbeing of our region. These cuts risk depriving Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire of skilled professionals whose work supports the local economy and strengthens community resilience. Evidence shows that registered nurses are crucial for patient safety and enhanced patient outcomes - to cut these vital registrant roles directly affects all of us, as patients now or as patients in the future. 

At a time when the NHS faces unprecedented strain, reducing training opportunities for future nurses sends the wrong message and undermines national efforts to rebuild and sustain the healthcare workforce.

These cuts may also disproportionately affect students from widening participation backgrounds, mature learners, and those seeking to enter healthcare through accessible local routes. Protecting these courses supports equality and access to education.

This decision is especially concerning when set against the backdrop of the NHS Long Term Plan’s focus on prevention and mental health, and the ongoing mental health crisis among children and young people. At a time when services are already stretched to breaking point trying to support those with SEND needs, young carers, and families in crisis, reducing training for the nurses who support them runs counter to national priorities for early intervention and compassionate, community-based care.

Likewise, Health Promotion & Public Health is critical in educating the public on preventive health measures and promoting healthier lifestyles. With an increasing burden of chronic diseases, professionals trained in health promotion are essential in leading nationwide efforts to improve public health. Scaling back on this programme risks setting back progress made in community health initiatives.

These courses not only impact the students who wish to pursue careers in these fields, but they also affect the broader community's health and well-being. We all have times where we need qualified staff with knowledge of mental illness, children’s health and health promotion - the risks of losing these courses and the future staff they create is critical.