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Scrapping NHS bursaries for courses like nursing and midwifery will cause a “workforce crisis”, claims healthcare union Unite.
The warning comes as MPs prepare to debate government plans to replace bursaries with loans from August next year, which could see many student nurses leaving university with debts of more
than £50,000.
“The government need to listen to widespread concerns and ditch this policy now”
A cross-party motion to scrap the proposal will be discussed in an Opposition Day Debate in parliament this afternoon.
The motion – signed by more than 130 MPs – calls on the government to drop the plans, which were announced in the autumn, and instead “consult on how it can best fund and support the future
healthcare workforce”.
The government has predicted the move from bursaries to loans will lead to 10,000 more places on courses, as universities are freed from public funding restraints.
But Unite argues that replacing bursaries with loans will put people off entering nursing, midwifery and other healthcare professions like pharmacy and speech and language therapy.
“Abolishing NHS student bursaries will stoke up a future NHS workforce crisis,” said Unite national officer for health Colenzo Jarret-Thorpe.
“The prospects of soaring debt will deter many to a pursue a career in public service and be a barrier for mature students and those from disadvantaged backgrounds entering health
professions,” he claimed.
“The government need to listen to widespread concerns and ditch this policy now,” he added.
The Royal College of Nursing recently urged the government to “go back to the drawing board” and rethink its plans on student nurse funding.
Nursing students and unions are planning a mass lobby of parliament on 25 May against the abolition of NHS bursaries.
Jezza knows this but the so called “subversive” creeping privatisation continues which will enable him to be employed by one of his mates who will have benefited from this!
Currently there are many unnecessary layers which cost the NHS in nurse education. Removing the bursary and placing nursing in line with other degrees is one way of addressing this and
saving money which can and should be put into direct patient care
I’m all for putting more money back into patient care but with out new nurses that will mean nothing. I would not have left my £25,000 a year job, working days, Monday to Friday, to start my
nurse training without my bursary. As a mature student £50,000 in debt wouldn’t be an option. I hope I’m an extremely good student nurse and will be a great qualified nurse who will benefit
patients for years to come, repaying my bursary many times over. I work shifts and just as hard as anyone else on the wards, I then study when I finish. Also there is the issue of quality
placements and enough mentors, which can not be found at present student numbers, which is the rationale the government gave for scrapping the bursaries.
One small correction, as far as I know pharmacy students don’t get bursaries at present anyway. In fact, there are too many pharmacy graduates and not enough jobs. With their own funding
cuts due later this year there will be even more unemployed pharmacists.
I’m in the process of applying for a bursary now, but as I took work overseas during the recession, it was that or benefits, there is some uncertainty as to whether I’ll get one. Without it
I won’t be doing the course. These loans are basically a £50,000 plus lifetime pay cut for nurses, I’d be happy to bet that MPs get another pay rise at some point in the near future. With
London houses prices rising by £200 a day there will be an even bigger shortage in the capital as nurses won’t be able to afford to live there. That’s not good for patient care.
Nursing cannot be like any other degree course why?. Because as a nursing student you work long hours on the ward during placement as well as coursework and exams even when all other student
from other disciple are on holiday…Removing the bursary is unthinkable because it makes it very hard for mature students like myself and other prospective students to consider a career in
nursing..The government should rethink this plan, and have a uturn just as they did with the disability payment..The rationale for removing bursary does not add up, rather it will end up a
disaster, as there will be shortages of good quality nurses to look after patients which is every nurses concern..
I agree that the bursary should stay and that there needs to be a reconsideration. I trained with the help of the bursary and part time jobs to supplement my income at that time. Now if I
was going into nursing I wouldn’t consider applying to know that the debt would be there at the end. Why oh why government do you think that you know best