Posted 05 September 2023 - 14:25
Posted 05 September 2023 - 14:25
News
Nursing student NHS bursary scheme to be extended
Financial support for undergraduates in Wales after 2024 had been uncertain – now it’s to be expanded in bid to ease future NHS workforce pressures
Financial support for undergraduates in Wales after 2024 had been uncertain – now it’s to be expanded in bid to ease future NHS workforce pressures
Financial support for nursing students in Wales will be extended for a year as the Cardiff government looks to boost NHS nurse recruitment.
Welsh minister for health and social care Eluned Morgan announced the bursary would be retained and widened for the 2024-25 student intake. Previously it had not been guaranteed for cohorts after 2023-24.
The government will consult on whether the current bursary meets students’ financial needs.
Financial support in exchange for commitment to practise in the NHS
Students who study in Wales, regardless of where they are from, are eligible for the bursary scheme if they agree to work in the NHS in Wales for at least two years after qualifying. However, Welsh students studying elsewhere in the UK do not carry that eligibility with them.
‘Wales needs nurses so the Welsh government must prioritise the future of nursing education’
Sandy Harding, associate director professional practice, RCN Wales
The package covers the full cost of tuition fees and a portion of living costs. There is a non-means-tested grant of £1,000 and a bursary of up to £4,491, depending on household income and programme duration.
Ms Morgan said: ‘We recognise we need to consider if the current financial package remains attractive and so during this period of extension, we will undertake a consultation. This will help us to establish the best way of continuing to support those who choose to study healthcare-related programmes in Wales.’
Those receiving the full bursary will be eligible to claim a full maintenance loan from the 2024-25 academic year as well.
Currently, students receiving the bursary can claim a reduced maintenance loan of £5,360 – they cannot claim a combination of the full maintenance loan and bursary. Those not receiving the bursary can borrow up to £11,000 depending on household income and where they live.
NHS nursing bursary extension needs to herald other reforms to aid recruitment
The RCN said the change needed to be the start of greater reform to make nursing a more viable profession.
The Welsh college’s associate director professional practice Sandy Harding said: ‘Nursing in higher education needs to be sustainable for the sector and provide research and career opportunities. Wales needs nurses so the Welsh government must prioritise the future of nursing education.’
UCAS figures show there were 5,800 applications for undergraduate nursing courses in Wales fell 21% by June 2023, down from 7,350 in 2022 to 5,800 this year. Overall, applications to nursing programmes across the UK fell 18% drop in the same period.
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