Plans to axe NHS bursary “foolish, petty and self-defeating”, says UNISON

The Chancellor’s plans to axe the nursing bursary must surely rank as one of “the most foolish, petty and self-defeating cuts” proposed by the government, UNISON General Secretary Dave Prentis will say later today (Wednesday) at a special summit London of student nurses. Taking place at the union’s headquarters in Euston, the event brings together nursing, midwifery and allied health professional students from across the NHS to plan the next steps in the campaign to defend the NHS bursary that the government plans to scrap next year. Speaking to the summit, Dave Prentis will say: “The chronic shortage of nurses in this country is causing the NHS huge problems. Many highly stressed and overworked staff are considering alternative careers, the agency bill has gone through the roof, and many hospitals still don’t have enough nurses to go around. “It would be sensible to assume that with too few staff on the wards that the government would be busting a gut to recruit more student nurses. “But sadly ministers plans to up the number of student nurses will have exactly the reverse effect. Axing the bursary next year will mean that fewer people from ordinary backgrounds can afford to become nurses, midwives, occupational therapists and radiographers. “But just as the government got the decision to cut tax credits very wrong, ministers have also underestimated the anger the planned cut to student bursaries is causing. “The reason for that anger isn’t hard to work...
Source: UNISON Health care news - Category: UK Health Authors: Tags: Article nursing nursing students Source Type: news