The lack of watertight legal responsibilities for the supply and planning of the health and care workforce is fuelling the staffing crisis, says the Royal College of Nursing.
In Scotland, the number of students accepted on to nursing degree courses has risen by 8 per cent since last year, when the bursary was increased to just over £8,000.
More than half of people surveyed in England agreed the Government should increase funding for nurse education to help stop the decline in student nurse numbers.
The Royal College of Nursing has warned that the increased pressure on NHS hospitals this summer is likely to have a knock-on effect on how quickly patients can receive care this winter, despite advance planning.
Britain has returned to its record high employment rate, but pay continues to fall despite a record level of unfilled job vacancies, says the Resolution Foundation.