A student nurse from Droitwich says seeing the effects of Covid first-hand has convinced her to pursue a career in nursing.

Natalie Shipley was taking a healthcare access course when the UK first went into lockdown and is now in the first year of an Adult Nursing degree at the University of Worcester.

And the mother-of-one isn’t alone - figures from Ucas show a record 28,815 students in England selected a nursing course in 2021, with 61% of applicants saying they were inspired by the pandemic.

Applications to study nursing in Worcester increased by 45%.

Natalie, who had worked in catering management, was in the first year of an access course at Heart of Worcestershire College when Covid hit in March 2020.

She volunteered at Worcestershire Royal Hospital, delivering personal belongings brought in for patients from relatives who weren’t allowed to visit. It was what she experienced at this time that solidified her path into nursing.

“A lot of the elderly people I spoke to had been with their partners for a long time and had barely been away from them,” said the 31-year-old.

“It was difficult for them. I’d tell them to look at a certain window just so they could see their face. It just made a difference. It made me realise this was something I wanted to do.

“It's not just giving people the care they need, such as administering medication or dressing a wound, but also just listening to them and being their advocate.”

The University of Worcester’s vice chancellor and chief executive, Professor David Green, said: “Nursing is an outstanding profession that is rewarding, fulfilling and deeply socially valuable.

“The devastating global pandemic has really shone a light on the bravery, skills and value of our outstanding health professionals. It is a real tribute to the country’s young people that so many are now inspired to apply to become nurses, midwives, doctors, occupational therapists, physiotherapists and health professionals of all kinds. These roles are vital for society to flourish and for individuals to thrive.”

The university received the largest allocation of additional health education places in the country in July 2020, including 240 additional student nursing places, to help support the NHS.

This led to Worcester welcoming its largest ever first year group of nursing students this year.