The government has confirmed plans to end bursaries for student nurses and midwives from next year, sparking anger across the health sector.
Replacing bursaries with loans would free up about £800m a year to create additional nursing roles by 2020 and help more students enter the profession, according to the Department of Health.
However, the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) said the changes were unfair and risky, while the Royal College of Midwives (RCM) argued that the move threatened the future of maternity services in England.
Student nurses, midwives and allied health professionals, including occupational therapists, speech and language therapists, podiatrists and radiographers, currently do not pay tuition fees. They receive a mixture of a non-means-tested bursary, a means-tested bursary and a reduced-rate student loan to help with their living costs. The government-funded Health Education England decides how many student places are available each year.
However, in a move first outlined by then chancellor George Osborne in November, bursaries will be replaced by loans in England to cover tuition fees and maintenance costs. The government claims this will allow the cap on student numbers to be lifted, creating up to 10,000 extra training places this parliament.
Health minister Philip Dunne said two-thirds of those who applied for a university nursing course were not currently offered a place and that the changes would give those in training about 25% more financial support while they studied.
Full story in The Guardian 21 July 2016