This story was first published in digitalhealth.net
RCN calls for action on on nursing students' fees
The Royal College of Nursing is calling on the government to recognise the continued contribution of nursing students to the workforce by taking urgent action on nursing students' fees and debt.
Alongside the Royal College of Midwives (RCM), UNISON and the National Union of Students (NUS), the RCP has written to Matt Hancock making three key demands on the government to show recognition of the significant contribution made by nursing, midwifery and allied health care students during the current coronavirus crisis.
The unions are calling on the Health Secretary and his ministers to: reimburse tuition fees or forgive current debt for all current nursing, midwifery, and allied health care students; abolish student-funded tuition fees for all nursing, midwifery, and allied health care students starting in 2020/21 and beyond, in recognition that they will be supporting vital public services; and introduce universal, living maintenance grants that reflect actual student need.
Dame Donna Kinnair, chief executive of the RCN, said: “Before the pandemic, we had witnessed the devastating impact the removal of the bursary had on student nurse numbers, with a 31 per cent reduction in university applications for nursing courses since 2016. This is a major reason why the nursing workforce in England entered the Covid-19 crisis with almost 40,000 unfilled posts – and with one arm effectively tied behind its back.
“Many student nurses have elected to become an invaluable part of the workforce at a time when the country needs them most, but they are still paying tuition fees, and this is simply not right. Now is the time for the government to recognise the ongoing contribution of student nurses by dropping the debt, covering tuition fees and building a workforce fit for the present, and the future.”
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