Labour to call for NHS bursaries to be saved

MINISTERS will come under pressure to reverse plans to scrap NHS bursaries for student nurses next week.
The Royal College of Nursing has urged the Government to halt its student nurse bursary plansThe Royal College of Nursing has urged the Government to halt its student nurse bursary plans
The Royal College of Nursing has urged the Government to halt its student nurse bursary plans

Labour will use an opposition day debate in the Commons to call on the Government to review its proposals to replace the bursaries with loans.

The Royal College of Nursing today called on Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt to halt the proposals which, it said, could hurt the number of student nurses and midwives entering the profession.

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The Government argues the measure, announced last year as part of George Osborne’s spending review, will make more training places available.

Shadow Health Secretary Heidi Alexander said: “Jeremy Hunt has spent months picking a fight with junior doctors and now he seems determined to start another one with the next generation of nurses, midwives and allied health professionals.

“The Tories’ decision to cut nurse training places during the last Parliament has already left hospital wards dangerously understaffed and patient care suffering as a result.

“However, this situation will only get worse if Ministers press ahead with their plans to scrap NHS bursaries and end up discouraging the future frontline staff we so desperately need.”

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The RCN described the Government’s plans in their current form as “high risk”.

Chief Executive Janet Davies said: “The Government has not thought hard enough about the risks of these proposals.

“They hope to increase nurse numbers but the plans aren’t reflecting the realities of modern nurse training and could have completely the opposite effect.”