UNISON Scotland call for increase in student nurse bursaries

UNISON Scotland has urged the Scottish Government to increase bursary rates for Student Nurses and Midwives in the next academic year. 

The plea comes as part of the union’s report ‘Caring, Learning and Worried about Money’ which was published yesterday.

The report includes a survey of student nurses across Scotland which found that 85% of student nurses relied on financial support from family and 83% say they have been in debt in the last year. Around half (42%) were running up credit card debts, 14% took out a loan and 6% had turned to high street loan companies.

Matt McLaughlin UNISON’s regional organiser for the NHS said: “The present system of funding student nurses and midwives is clearly unfit for purpose.

“We need a system which is based on a fundamental principle of fairness; which delivers a long lasting commitment to a Living Bursary and is unafraid of committing public money to doing so.

“Two thirds of student nurses and midwives are working part-time, some doing more than one job to  make ends meet, many working up to 25hrs or more per week.

“As students make very clear in our report they find juggling work placements, part-time jobs, and studying very stressful.”

To download the report: visit: Caring, Learning and Worried about Money