A survey of student midwives by the Royal College of Midwives (RCM) found that ‘almost half of student midwives have considered leaving their midwifery courses due to financial pressures and debt.’
The RCM has described the findings as ‘worrying’ for the future of the midwifery profession as their Annual Conference gets underway in Manchester.
The survey of the organisation’s student membership included questions about student’s current financial situation, levels of debt accrued and the impact of the removal of the NHS bursary in England.
The average amount of debt a student midwife expects to graduate with is £41,000, but the RCM survey found that some students had debts totalling £100,000.
Full story in Nursing Notes, 24 September 2019