Student nursing bursaries end, prompting recruitment and debt fears

Nursing bursaries officially stopped this week, sparking outrage among future trainee nursing staff.
The Government bursaries ended on TuesdayThe Government bursaries ended on Tuesday
The Government bursaries ended on Tuesday

The bursary was set up to allow people from all different backgrounds the chance to save lives in a medical profession.

However, on Tuesday, August 1, the bursary scheme ended, meaning all new nursing staff will now have to pay for the three-year course.

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According to the Nursing Times, the average student spends £47,712 for a three-year course if they take out a maximum tuition and maintenance loan, raising concerns of huge debt levels amongst

Staff and patients at hospitals around the country have expressed their worry as they believe that stopping the bursary will have a knock-on effect to the amount of staff being recruited.

This could lead to an all-time low of job spaces filled within medical positions.

Some of the courses affected by the changes are:

Midwifery

Dietetics

Occupational therapy

Orthopaedics

Prosthetic

Physiotherapy

Paediatric/chiropody

Radiography

Speech and language therapy

Operating department practitioner

It is thought the bursaries are being stopped to make a predicted £800m saving which the government hope to spend on opening new nursing positions.

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West Sussex County Council have been approached for a comment.

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