Four leading unions have called on the Health Secretary to
recognise the significant contribution by – and disruption to –
nursing, midwifery and allied healthcare students during the
current crisis by abolishing tuition fees and reimbursing those
already paid.
The Royal College of Midwives, the Royal College of Nursing,
UNISON and the National Union of Students (NUS) have today
written to asking him to “acknowledge
students’ selfless service, not only with words, but in a
tangible and quantifiable way”. They are asking that he:
- reimburse tuition fees or forgive current debt for all
current nursing, midwifery, and allied healthcare students;
- abolish student-funded tuition fees for all nursing,
midwifery, and allied healthcare students starting in 2020/21 and
beyond, in recognition that they will be supporting vital public
services; and
- introduce universal, living maintenance grants that reflect
actual student need.
Royal College of Midwices chief executive and general
secretary Gill Walton said: “Our
students make an invaluable contribution to the health of our
country, both during and after their training. Never has that
been more apparent than during this current crisis, not only with
those formally entering the workforce but many others
volunteering in health and care settings. The policy of tuition
fees for those in studying for healthcare degrees is, and always
has been, a flawed one, as it does not take into account the
considerable time spent on clinical placements. Now is the time
to put right this wrong.”
UNISON general secretary Dave Prentis said:
“Healthcare students have stepped up to the plate to help the NHS
through the current crisis. Having racked up thousands of pounds
of debt while learning the skills we so desperately need, many
are now working alongside their more senior colleagues.
“The Government can show the depth of its gratitude by writing
off their student fees. When the pandemic has passed, it must
scrap them for all healthcare students in future and introduce
proper maintenance support.”
Royal College of Nursing chief executive and general
secretary Donna Kinnair said: “Before the pandemic,
we had witnessed the devastating impact the introduction of
tuition fees had on student nurse numbers, with a 31 per cent
reduction in university applications for nursing courses since
2016. This is a major reason why the nursing workforce in England
entered the covid-19 crisis with almost 40,000 unfilled posts –
and with one arm effectively tied behind its back.
“Many student nurses have elected to become an invaluable part of
the workforce at a time when the country needs them most, but
they are still paying tuition fees, and this is simply not right.
Now is the time for the government to recognise the ongoing
contribution of student nurses by dropping the debt, abolishing
tuition fees and building a workforce fit for the present, and
the future.”
NUS vice-president welfare Eva Crossan Jory said: “The
contribution of nursing, midwifery and allied healthcare students
to our society has always been immense but for too long has not
been adequately recognised. The very cohorts of healthcare
students currently experiencing unparalleled disruption to their
education and volunteering to work on the frontline against
Coronavirus are those who were also forced by the government to
pay tuition fees and study without an NHS bursary. These key
learners need more than weekly applause, they need a Student
Safety Net. We urge the Government to commit to a radical new
financial settlement for these students and all those to come.”
In their letter to the Health Secretary, the four unions have
reminded him of the concerns they raised when the policy of
tuition fees was first suggested – and how those concerns,
including a shortfall in nurses and financial hardship for
students, have been borne out. They have called on him to
recognise the value and commitment of nursing, midwifery and
allied healthcare students, not only during the current crisis
but beyond it.
Notes to editors:
– The joint letter was sent by the leaders of the
Royal College of Midwives, UNISON, the Royal College of Nursing
and the National Union of Students.
