Nurses remain the most trusted profession in the UK, according to the annual Ipsos MORI Veracity Index – the longest-running survey on trust in certain professions across the UK.
The poll, running since 1983, revealed that 94% of the British public trust nurses to tell them the truth – up from 93% last year, which was the first time nurses were included in the research.
Janet Davies, Chief Executive of the Royal College of Nursing, said: ‘This is a proud and well-deserved achievement for our profession. But it is time the political establishment caught up with the rest of the public and realised just how trusted and valued nursing staff are.
‘Any supportive statements today must be matched with meaningful investment tomorrow. Government must expand training plans and improve nurses’ work and personal lives –warm words won’t pay the bills nor fix the shortages and allow for the highest care standards.’
Nurses were ranked first in the poll, just ahead of doctors (91%), teachers (87%) and university professors (85%). The least trusted professions were politicians, footballers and journalists.
The poll involved interviewing a representative sample of almost 1000 UK adults aged 15 and over between 20th – 26th October 2017, with data being adjusted to match population profiles.
Gideon Skinner, head of political polling at Ipsos MORI, said: ‘Ipsos MORI has been tracking trust in professions for over 30 years, and over that time there have been some notable movers.
‘Groups such as professors, scientists, the police, trade union officials and civil servants have become more trusted, but the clergy are the most notable losers. But not everything changes – doctors, nurses and teachers have consistently been near the top, and politicians and journalists down the bottom.’
Janet Davies added: ‘The public is on the side of nurses as they know nurses are on theirs - Ministers would do well to remember that in the months to come.’