Campaign to waive student nurse fee
VIRENDRA Sharma MP launched his campaign with a letter to the Health and Social Care Secretary, now backed by 39 MPs, which calls on the Government to waive the £120 Nursing and Midwifery Council registration fee for nurses, in recognition of their lifesaving work during coronavirus epidemic in the UK.
In the Ealing Southall MP’s letter, he wrote: “We are concerned that nurses, who are working incredibly hard on the frontline of this unprecedented public health emergency, still have to pay their £120 registration fee to the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC).
“We strongly believe that the Government should either waive the fee or contribute to the NMC on their behalf, in recognition of their vital work at this critical time”.
The Nursing and Midwifery Council is the professional regulator for nurses and midwives in the UK, and nursing associates in England. Nursing professionals must register and pay an annual £120 fee in order to be recognised as a registered nurse.
Virendra Sharma said: “In Florence Nightingale’s bicentennial, 2020 was meant to be the international year of the nurse and midwife, though it is now set to become a tragic year for the profession. Nurses and other health and social care professionals have shown tremendous courage and determination in their duties and have gone above and beyond to contain this hideous disease, and provide world class care to those affected.
“Their sacrifice has been immense, and at a time when the Government has rightfully intervened to protect jobs and businesses, we believe that it is only fair that those who are putting their lives at risk for the benefit of society, receive similar levels of support”.
In March, the politician was hospitalised after developing coronavirus symptoms, and has paid enormous tribute to the nursing staff and NHS professionals at Hillingdon Hospital who cared for him through his illness.