Nearly 15,000 nurses and midwives were on the temporary register at the last count.
The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) has announced the end of its temporary nurse register.
Applications to join the temporary pandemic register will no longer be accepted from 24 March, when the relevant part of the Coronavirus Act 2020 expires.
However, those already on the temporary register can continue to practise after this date.
The nursing regulator has asked the Government to provide three to six months’ notice ahead of the temporary registration ending for all, allowing eligible people time to move to the permanent register if they wish.
Workforce data published by the NMC reveals that 14,630 registered nurses and midwives were on the temporary register in September 2021.
Played an incredible part.
Andrea Sutcliffe, NMC Chief Executive and Registrar, said: “Nurses and midwives on our Covid-19 temporary register have played an incredible part in the national response to the pandemic.
“Thousands answered our call to join, and have helped to keep essential health and care services going under extreme pressure during the emergency.
Ms Sutcliffe continued; “We’re very grateful to everyone for their dedication and commitment.
“Now that we’re moving into a new phase of the Government’s approach, we’ll prepare to close the temporary register carefully over the coming months.
“We’ll keep all our temporary registrants and our partners informed with as much notice as possible. And we’ll support eligible professionals to move on to our permanent register, if they want to keep practising.”
