More than 100 staff, students, lecturers and supporters protested outside Cardiff University School of Nursing which faces the axe under proposed cuts. Cardiff University last week announced brutal suggested savings including the loss of 400 jobs and department closures as it battles a massive forecast deficit.

The Royal College of Nursing said it is “standing in solidarity” with the Save The Nursing protest. The RCN said the demonstration outside Ty Dewi Sant on Friday highlighted “critical concerns” about the proposal to close the school and the impact on the future of the nursing profession, including staff shortages, working conditions, and patient safety.

One lecturer at the protest said nurses from the school are vital to the NHS. The RCN has estimated Wales is short of 2,000 nurses Never miss a Cardiff story by signing up to our daily newsletter here

An adult nursing and specialist community public health nurse lecturer, who would only be identified as Louise, joined the demonstration and said: “ There have been nursing programmes at Cardiff University for over 50 years. The news of the proposed teach-out and termination of nursing at Cardiff is unbelievable. We are rated the top nursing provider in Wales and have high rankings within the UK and internationally.

“Our student nurses and postgraduate research nurses chose to come from across the world, UK, and are homegrown within Wales. They play a vital role in supporting the Welsh NHS which has high nursing vacancies and where corridor care remains a norm.

“The reduction in opportunities to study nursing here in Cardiff will have a direct impact on the people of South Wales and the Welsh NHS. The university has caused great distress to our nursing students and nurse educators.

“There is no clear direction and many mixed messages with nursing at the core, undervalued. Our message back to the university is very clear: The removal of Cardiff University’s School of Nursing will directly affect our patients and the delivery of high standards of safe quality care." Read more details about Cardiff University's proposed cuts here.

Lauren Healan, a third-year student nurse at The University of South Wales and vice chair of the RCN’s UK student committee, who attended the protest, said: “The proposed closure of the School of Nursing at Cardiff University is unacceptable. It will not only impact student nurses and the future of nursing in Wales but will also have a devastating impact on patients and patient safety.”

A Cardiff University spokesperson said: “It’s important to stress that these are proposals and there is still a great deal of detail to work through before any final decisions are made. In the short term there will be no immediate impact on nursing students or their ability to complete their studies.

“We are committed to delivering nursing degree programmes to the students starting in 2025. We are acutely aware of our role in delivering the next generation of healthcare professionals for Wales and beyond and are actively consulting with all stakeholders on our proposals.”