Sheffield MP slams plan to scrap bursaries for student nurses

Speaking in the Houses of Parliament, Mr Blomfield outlined concerns that plans to replace bursaries with loans will deter people from poorer families and worsen the national shortage of nurses and midwives.

He said: “Both the Royal College of Nurses and the Royal College of Midwives are worried about the impact on recruitment and fear it will increase staff shortages.

“The Government argues that by scrapping bursaries and lifting the cap on nursing places will lead to more student nurses and midwives. All the evidence suggests that scrapping bursaries will damage recruitment. The real reason we’re not training enough nurses and midwives is because the Government hasn’t created enough training places.

“It beggars belief that at a time when we need more nurses and midwives than ever the Government is scrapping bursaries. The Government are just shifting saving money at the expense of hard-working students by outsourcing the cost of their training on to the students themselves.”