Perspectives: Nursing Student Funding Debate

Abstract

On a dark and damp London evening on 6 January 2016, leading healthcare academics, students, union representatives and other concerned parties gathered together at London South Bank University’s (LSBU’s) Keyworth Events Theatre with one thing on their minds, the ending of NHS student bursaries. Announced in the Spending Review (HM Treasury, 2015), the Treasury has decided that nursing, midwifery and allied health professional students can no longer benefit from ‘free’ qualifications and must pay a contribution as other graduates do, through a 9% marginal rate income tax for 30 years or until the £50,000 or greater loan plus interest is fully repaid (Student Loans Company, 2015). The headline question for the evening’s debate was ‘Will removing the restrictions on nursing student places and NHS funded nursing bursaries and fees increase the supply of registered nurses in the UK?’ Although the present proposal only directly affects England, later in the debate it was suggested that there may be consequences for devolved territories that would need separate conversations. Further, balancing cost-effectiveness, quality and security of supply of nurses is a concern with global reach. Speaking in support of the changes was Elisabeth Jelfs, Director of the Council of Deans of Health, seconded by nurse Charlotte Johnston. Speaking against the changes was nurse Rob Waterson, seconded by student nurse Serena Ruffoni. Chairing, in her first day of a new job no less, was Becky Malby, Professor of Health Systems Innovation at LSBU, with co-hosting provided online by @WeNurses under their #WeNurses hashtag. Live polling of the present audience was facilitated before and after the debate by Dr Elaine Maxwell, with the results as fascinating as ever, revealing some shifting from moderate towards stronger opinions, with the broadest consensus being that loans would make studying less attractive and discourage mature students. The debates hosted by Elaine and her colleagues are always excellently provocative and enlightening, but as a student (albeit currently on deferment for family reasons) I felt this one was especially personal, making it hard to approach with a dispassionate objectivity. Elisabeth (Lizzie) Jelfs spoke first and immediately shattered any entrenched preconceptions I held by being disarmingly reasonable and comprehensively informed. She carefully explained how the >20% increase in commissioned places since 2012 described by Health Education England (2015a) could not be sustained in the current