THE Royal College of Nursing (RCN) has urged Cardiff University to abandon plans to cut its top-ranked nursing degree, warning of serious consequences for healthcare in Wales.

The union has formally responded to the university’s internal consultation on the proposed closure of its School of Nursing, expressing deep concern over the impact.

A petition for the Senedd to enable the university to keep its nursing courses has gathered more than 7,300 signatures from people in every constituency in Wales. 

With about 2,000 nurse vacancies in the Welsh NHS and corridor care — where patients are treated in inappropriate and unsafe areas — on the rise, RCN Wales warns that scrapping nurse education at Cardiff would worsen workforce shortages and threaten patient safety.

RCN Wales executive director Helen Whyley said: “This proposal is profoundly alarming. 

“How Cardiff University can claim that its nursing programmes are unsustainable when they are funded by Welsh government is baffling.

“Cardiff University should immediately withdraw these proposals, commit to no compulsory redundancies and instead collaborate with key stakeholders… to find a solution that protects nursing students, academic staff and patients.”

The university was approached for comment.