Check out the link below for relative rankings 2005.
http://education.guardian.co.uk/universityguide2005/table/0,15905,-5163916,00.html
What those rankings mean you'll have to read for yourself. You definitely want a high spend per student and the higher the student/teacher ratio the more teaching you get.
I'm just coming to the end of a nursing course at LJMU (unfortunately ranked at 73). I am a mature student and with family responsibilities had little choice in where to do my training as I needed proximity and finance (NHS bursary).
I already have a degree gained some years ago and a previous career and been in the position of interviewing and employing people. My personal opinion, for what it is worth, is that while a good university will not hinder you it has never been on my list of criteria for prospective employees. Far more important would be personality, extra curricular activity, interest and enthusiasm.