Calls Grow to Pay Student Nurses for NHS Placements
A petition advocating for paid NHS placements for student nurses and the elimination of their university fees has gained significant traction, spearheaded by Alex Lawrence from Eye, Suffolk. Lawrence launched the petition after realizing his daughter, Tabatha, began her nursing degree without receiving pay for her extensive clinical placements.
"I was blissfully ignorant," Lawrence stated, describing his shock at the system. He highlighted the financial burden on aspiring nurses, particularly those without strong family support. "If you've got the support of a family that don't charge you keep, you don't have to pay rent, maybe [who] make sure you get there every day, that's absolutely lovely," he said. "But I do worry dearly about all the people out there that aren't quite as lucky, that might be fantastic nurses, doctors and dentists, but because of the financial implications will never get the chance."
The Reality of Unpaid Hours
Nursing students are required to complete 2,300 hours of unpaid clinical placements as part of their degrees, all while simultaneously paying tuition fees. Lawrence believes the current non-repayable grant of at least £5,000 available to student nurses "barely" helps alleviate this financial strain.
The petition has garnered more than 6,200 signatures, attracting support from political figures like Peter Prinsley, the Labour MP for Bury St Edmunds and Stowmarket. A former NHS professional himself with 30 years of experience, Prinsley fully agrees with the petition's aims. "If somebody asks me, 'Who looks after the patients?', I always say it is the nurses," he remarked, emphasizing their indispensable role. "I agree with them that they certainly shouldn't be doing this for nothing. I think the whole thing really merits review."
Impact on Recruitment and Retention
Melanie McAteer, the Royal College of Nursing's senior officer for Suffolk, underscored the alarming impact of these financial pressures on the nursing profession. She revealed a 35% drop in applications for nursing degrees since 2021 and a 21% annual dropout rate among students. McAteer highlighted the stark reality faced by many: "We know that nursing students have shocking experiences of being unable to afford food, being homeless and facing uncertain employment after qualifying."
The University of Suffolk has also reported a 3% decrease in applications for undergraduate adult nursing for 2025 entry compared to the previous year, though it noted an increase in children's nursing applications and nursing apprenticeships.
In response, a government spokesperson acknowledged the "critical role" nurses play in the NHS and in its "Plan for Change." They reiterated that eligible nurses receive a non-repayable grant of "at least £5,000 per academic year" from the NHS Learning Support Fund, in addition to standard maintenance and tuition fee loans.
The growing calls for a review of student nurse funding underscore a broader concern about ensuring a robust and accessible pathway into a profession vital to the nation's healthcare system.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c4gkdn6g4g6o
