£1bn needed to fill 42,000 nursing jobs say students
STUDENT nurses protesting outside Parliament yesterday joined calls for £1billion of NHS funding to tackle the staffing crisis.
The Royal College of Nursing wants money to be allocated out of NHS funds recently pledged by Theresa May to fill the 42,000 nursing vacancies.
The staffing crisis follows the Tories’ scrapping of nursing bursaries in 2016, after which applications to courses fell 33%.
The RCN says £1billion would fund the return of bursaries, grants or “forgivable loans”, paid off by the Government in return for service on wards.
DEBTS
Students protested ahead of a Commons debate on NHS funding called by Wolverhampton Labour MP Eleanor West, who is a former nurse.
Many undergraduates say they cannot survive on regular student loans as hospital placements stop them doing part-time jobs.
First year student nurse, Alexandra Brucciana, 20, said: “I’ve got my student loans and I’m borrowing from friends. At this rate I’ll drop out by Christmas.”
Meanwhile the Nursing and Midwifery Council wants to lower the English language requirement for overseas health workers.
The NMC said it is planning the change as some people “just miss out” on the current standard.