Saturday is International Nurses Day (celebrated on Florence Nightingale’s birthday) which, a learned reader remarks, is reason to recognise we are going to need a bunch more of them.

A Deloitte Access Economics report from February estimates demand for 46 000 more nurses by 2021-22. But there are nurses and nurses. The report suggests the big need will be for nurses with postgraduate qualifications. “With an ageing population placing increased pressure on existing health-related services, nurses who are qualified to deliver advanced care and extended practice – as well as those with leadership and management skills – will be in high demand in order to assist in the delivery of healthcare.”