MPs back the RCN in opposing scrapping of nursing bursary

MPs have encouraged the government to listen to the RCN’s concerns about plans to replace the nursing bursary with student loans. 

SNP, SDLP and Labour members tabled an amendment to an early day motion in parliament in which they backed the college’s Nursing Counts campaign and highlighted the 14% real-terms fall in nursing pay since 2010. 

Their amendment also read: ‘[This House] encourages ministers to listen to the college’s clear warnings on their proposals to replace bursaries for nursing students with loans.’ 

The RCN has campaigned against eradicating the bursary and RCN general secretary Janet Davies has said the plans are ‘extremely disappointing’.

The MPs’ made their amendment to an original early day motion which congratulated the RCN on reaching its centenary year.

It said: ‘[This House] recognises the important contribution the college has made to promoting nursing and to driving excellence and innovation in nursing practice.’

Early day motions are used to publicise the views of individual MPs but are rarely debated in parliament.