University proposes cut to learning disability nursing lecturer team

Nursing student starts petition in protest at Bangor University proposal

Hundreds of people have signed a petition in protest at a proposed cut in the learning disability nursing lecturer team at Bangor University in Wales. 

The university wants to reduce the School of Health Sciences budget by £775,000 by 2022 as part of a wider savings exercise.

The proposal

The institution proposes cutting the learning disability team from 2.5 full-time-equivalent lecturers to two. It claims this would maintain the agreed minimum staff-to-student ratio of 1:17 across all nursing courses. 

The commissioned number of places for learning disability nursing degree programmes at Bangor was 20 for 2019-20.

• RELATED: Learning disability nursing degree course suspended due to lack of applicants

More than 800 people have signed the petition, organised by first-year learning disability nursing student Lucy Spencer.

Ms Spencer is concerned that, if implemented, the proposals would jeopardise learning, both in learning disability nursing programme, and across the other nursing programmes that require input from learning disability nursing lecturers.

'I am also concerned about the impact these changes will have on people living with a learning disability'

Lucy Spencer, student and petition organiser

She also believes focusing on the minimum staff-to-student ratio, which is based on current student numbers, means the university will have no incentive to expand its learning disability nursing cohorts and would need to recruit a lecturer, were numbers to rise.

'It is having an impact on our studies – all the uncertainty is quite stressful,' said Ms Spencer. 'I am also concerned about the impact these changes will have on people living with a learning disability in north Wales and beyond.'

‘Insufficient students’

A Bangor University spokesperson said: 'In order to respond to the current challenging financial landscape facing the higher education in the UK, we have recently concluded a consultation with staff and students regarding a number of options, and are now considering the responses.

'These options will enable the university to meet its financial targets.

• RELATED: Lack of learning disability nursing applicants could force university to scrap course

'Unfortunately learning disability nursing has not been recruiting sufficient students to meet its targets over recent years, and this proposal reflects that. 

'No decisions will be made until all the responses have been considered in full.'

A University and College Union spokesperson said: 'We are in detailed discussions with the university to look at ways to avoid job losses.'

Further information

See the petition

In other news

• Take a break, have a smear test: NHS trust’s bid to boost uptake among staff
• CPD funding: I promise budget cuts will be reversed, says head of NHS England