North Wales MS Mark Isherwood has raised with the Education Minister concerns that nursing students in Wales are at a distinct and unfair disadvantage financially, compared to students studying other courses.
Questioning the Minister, Jeremy Miles MS, in yesterday’s meeting of the Welsh Parliament, Mr Isherwood referred to a case raised with him by a parent in North Wales, where a student on an Adult Nursing Course will only receive a student loan for living costs of £4,855, £3,000 less a year to live on than students on non-health courses.
Speaking in the Senedd Chamber, Mr Isherwood said:
“My constituent explained that because their household income was just over the eligibility threshold for an income-assessed NHS bursary, their son wasn't eligible. He was already short £317 (after allocated self-catering accommodation) before taking into account food, laundry and travel expenses etc.. They pointed out that their other son, who was not studying for a nursing course but a general alternative course, would be £3,000 a year better off on the funding he currently receives through the system currently in place.
“So, how would you address the constituent's closing question …’what can be done to amend the inequitable treatment of nursing students’ who are starting their studies this term?”
The Education Minister told Mr Isherwood
“The Welsh Government is working with Health Education and Improvement Wales to review the NHS Wales bursary scheme. We recognise the impact of increasing costs of living on healthcare professional students and we're working to identify immediate actions that could provide additional support.”
He also told Mr Isherwood to write to him regarding the case he raised, so he can look into it in more detail.
