Menu
13/09/2005
Nurses’ debts increasing, survey reveals
The number of student nurses with debts of more than £10,000 has doubled within two years, new research has revealed.
A survey of 2,000 student nurses, conducted by ‘Nursing Times’ and health workers’ union Unison, found that 13% had debts totalling more than £10,000 in 2005, compared to 6% in 2003.
More than half of those surveyed (56%) said that they had considered giving up their training, because of financial problems.
The findings were published as the government revealed plans to change the current NHS bursary system, allowing nursing students to continue to receive their bursary payments during pregnancy and childbirth.
However, although the announcement was welcomed by both Unison and the Royal College of Nursing, there have been calls for the current bursary to be increased.
According to the survey, over two-thirds of student nurses (69%) took on extra work, in order to supplement their £6,000-a-year bursaries, with over half (54%) working more than eleven hours per week, usually as healthcare assistants.
Dave Prentis, Unison General Secretary, suggested that nurses should receive a salary, in order to allow them to concentrate on their studies and placements, while Nursing Times Editor Rachel Downey said that the bursary needed to be increased.
Gill Robertson, Royal College of Nursing Student Nurse Advisor, said: “This is a real and pressing issue for nursing students. They are qualifying with huge debts at a time when the NHS is putting a freeze on recruitment and threatening redundancies because of mounting deficits.
“As our own research shows, many student nurses are leaving before they qualify as a direct result of the financial problems they face during training. With the UK set to face a serious nursing shortfall over the next ten years as many nurses retire, this is an issue that demands the government’s attention.”
A spokesperson for the Department of Health said that student nurses also had their fees paid for by the NHS, in addition to the bursary. The spokesperson said: “We believe that the current system of financial support is adequate to support healthcare students in training.”
(KMcA/SP)
A survey of 2,000 student nurses, conducted by ‘Nursing Times’ and health workers’ union Unison, found that 13% had debts totalling more than £10,000 in 2005, compared to 6% in 2003.
More than half of those surveyed (56%) said that they had considered giving up their training, because of financial problems.
The findings were published as the government revealed plans to change the current NHS bursary system, allowing nursing students to continue to receive their bursary payments during pregnancy and childbirth.
However, although the announcement was welcomed by both Unison and the Royal College of Nursing, there have been calls for the current bursary to be increased.
According to the survey, over two-thirds of student nurses (69%) took on extra work, in order to supplement their £6,000-a-year bursaries, with over half (54%) working more than eleven hours per week, usually as healthcare assistants.
Dave Prentis, Unison General Secretary, suggested that nurses should receive a salary, in order to allow them to concentrate on their studies and placements, while Nursing Times Editor Rachel Downey said that the bursary needed to be increased.
Gill Robertson, Royal College of Nursing Student Nurse Advisor, said: “This is a real and pressing issue for nursing students. They are qualifying with huge debts at a time when the NHS is putting a freeze on recruitment and threatening redundancies because of mounting deficits.
“As our own research shows, many student nurses are leaving before they qualify as a direct result of the financial problems they face during training. With the UK set to face a serious nursing shortfall over the next ten years as many nurses retire, this is an issue that demands the government’s attention.”
A spokesperson for the Department of Health said that student nurses also had their fees paid for by the NHS, in addition to the bursary. The spokesperson said: “We believe that the current system of financial support is adequate to support healthcare students in training.”
(KMcA/SP)
Related UK National News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.
28 April 2003
Lack of nurses puts patients at risk
A lack of qualified nurses means that students are being left in sole charge of patients in the NHS, the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) has warned. The RCN has pointed to a "serious lack" of registered nurses to support and guide students, which is "endangering patient care and short-changing these urgently needed new recruits to nursing".
Lack of nurses puts patients at risk
A lack of qualified nurses means that students are being left in sole charge of patients in the NHS, the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) has warned. The RCN has pointed to a "serious lack" of registered nurses to support and guide students, which is "endangering patient care and short-changing these urgently needed new recruits to nursing".
18 July 2007
Nurses’ morale 'at ten year low'
Morale amongst nurses is at a ten year low, a new survey by the Royal College of Nursing has shown. The 'Holding On' survey showed that optimism over job security, career progression and training are at their lowest levels since 1997.
Nurses’ morale 'at ten year low'
Morale amongst nurses is at a ten year low, a new survey by the Royal College of Nursing has shown. The 'Holding On' survey showed that optimism over job security, career progression and training are at their lowest levels since 1997.
03 July 2006
NHS to no longer recruit junior foreign nurses
The NHS should no longer hire junior nurses from abroad, the government has announced. The role of Band 5 nurses is to be taken off the Home Office shortage occupation list. The role had been on the list in order to support international recruitment where NHS trusts have been unable to fill vacancies using UK or EEA trained staff.
NHS to no longer recruit junior foreign nurses
The NHS should no longer hire junior nurses from abroad, the government has announced. The role of Band 5 nurses is to be taken off the Home Office shortage occupation list. The role had been on the list in order to support international recruitment where NHS trusts have been unable to fill vacancies using UK or EEA trained staff.
18 September 2008
Calls For A National Bursary Scheme
Serious shortcomings in how bursaries are awarded to students from poorer backgrounds have been highlighted in a report by an independent think tank. The Higher Education Policy Institute (Hepi) believes a national bursary scheme should be established to ensure that all disadvantaged university students receive the financial help they need.
Calls For A National Bursary Scheme
Serious shortcomings in how bursaries are awarded to students from poorer backgrounds have been highlighted in a report by an independent think tank. The Higher Education Policy Institute (Hepi) believes a national bursary scheme should be established to ensure that all disadvantaged university students receive the financial help they need.
19 September 2003
Government has 'failed' to reverse nursing shortages
The Royal College of Nurses (RCN) has issued a warning to government today that its policies have failed to reverse serious shortages in nursing staff.
Government has 'failed' to reverse nursing shortages
The Royal College of Nurses (RCN) has issued a warning to government today that its policies have failed to reverse serious shortages in nursing staff.
-
Northern Ireland WeatherToday:A fine dry days weather with sunshine quite widespread, particularly from mid-morning. Temperatures best across southern districts. North to northwesy breezes occasionally freshening around the coasts. Maximum temperature 15 °C.Tonight:Most dry with good clear spells bringing a rural frost in the south for some. Cloudier around northern coasts where the odd light shower may develop. Northerly breezes persisting. Minimum temperature 0 °C.
