Cut in nurses’ bursaries is a disaster for students
NUS-USI
President Adrianne Peltz has expressed disgust at the Health Minister’s
announcement today that nursing and midwifery bursaries will be
significantly cut for students
starting courses in the coming days. The Minister announced that annual
bursaries will be cut by almost 15% from £6055 to £5165 and the book
and uniform allowances will be scrapped for students commencing study
from 2012 and beyond.
President
of NUS-USI, Adrianne Peltz said: “This announcement is absolutely
catastrophic, and so is the timing of it. People are about to commence
their courses in the coming
days, and they now face this financial bodyblow. This announcement is a
disaster for nursing and midwifery students.
“Imagine
a wage cut of almost 15% and the impact that this would have on
people’s ability to make ends meet. This is what is happening as regards
every new nursing student
here. They will contribute so much to our heath service through the
massive number of hours they will work in our hospitals during their
work placements. This is essentially a massive wage cut for them.
“Also,
the fact that the Minister is abolishing the much valued book and
uniform allowance brings into even sharper focus the massive financial
pressure that new nursing
and midwifery students will now face.
“This
announcement will have thrown into turmoil the plans of students who
are starting nursing and midwifery courses in the next few days and
weeks, and now face this devastating
cut in their bursary.
“It
appears that the massive concerns of students have not been taken in to
account during the consultation process, as this cut and the abolition
of these allowances have
been implement in full, as stated in the consultation document.”
I think that uniform is symbol of a profession. It must be worn and in some specific fields uniform is required for safety concern like lab coats for scientist, medical clothing for doctors etc.
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