More than 7,500 ex-nurses and midwives answer NHS rallying cry and return to help battle coronavirus pandemic
- Thousands of nurses answered the rallying cry within the last seven days
- All had left the NHS within the last three years to retire or change roles
- More than 6,000 pharmacists have re-registered in response to the outbreak
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More than 7,500 former nurses and midwives have answered the call from the NHS and returned to work to help battle the coronavirus pandemic.
The huge response comes just seven days after the nursing regulator sent out a rallying cry to thousands who had either retired or changed roles within the last three years.
More than 6,000 pharmacists and pharmacist technicians have also re-registered, along with thousands of doctors, as the health service battles against one of the biggest challenges in its history.
The UK recorded its biggest jump in coronavirus cases so far today, as its total reached 14,579. The NHS is working flat out to treat those suffering from the virus, and the government has begun transforming the Excel centre in London into a makeshift hospital.
The huge response comes just seven days after the nursing regulator sent out the rallying cry to thousands. Pictured above is a nurse in Liverpool yesterday
The UK saw its biggest single day jump in confirmed coronavirus cases today
The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) sent out a rallying cry to 50,000 former nurses, calling on them to return to work.
Those that re-registered medical staff have joined the NMC’s Covid-19 temporary register, which enables them to practise during the emergency. Their details are being shared with health and care organisations across all four countries of the UK.
‘We’re living in the most extraordinary of times. To see thousands of former nursing and midwifery professionals make the decision so quickly to sign up to our temporary emergency register and join the Covid-19 response is simply incredible,’ said Andrea Sutcliffe, the NMC’s chief executive and registrar.
‘To former nurses and midwives who left their professions within the last three years who haven’t already applied to join the NMC Covid-19 temporary register but would like to, it’s not too late. We need you.
‘We know it’s a huge ask, but by offering to return to work in this hour of need, I know what a massive difference your expertise and experience will bring for everyone working in and receiving care in the NHS, in communities, in nursing homes and across the country during the challenging weeks and months ahead.
AN NHS nurse pictured doing a home visit in Sefton Park, Liverpool, yesterday
A nurse is pictured above checking a monitor in hospital. The NHS is recruiting more staff as it tackles the coronavirus
‘To our returners – and to the 700,000 nurses, midwives and nursing associates who are already playing an essential and much-valued part in this pandemic – you are the heartbeat of our health and care system. Thank you.’
Meanwhile, the regulators of doctors and pharmacists have automatically re-registered thousands of professionals so they can help if they choose during the crisis.
The General Medical Council – which operates the register of doctors working in Britain – last week wrote to 15,000 medics who have left the profession in the last three years.
They were informed they would automatically be temporarily re-registered unless they opted out.
The GMC said that some doctors opted out and the remaining 11,856 have now been granted temporary registration.
Meanwhile the General Pharmaceutical Council has given temporary registration to 3,332 pharmacists and 2,909 pharmacy technicians who had left the register in the last three years.