Welsh Gov confirm NHS bursary will be extended for healthcare students starting in 2019

Welsh Health Secretary, Vaughan Gething, has confirmed the NHS bursary will be extended in Wales for students starting their studies in September 2019.

The bursary, for eligible student nurses, midwives and allied health professionals, was scrapped in England in 2017. 

In Wales, the full bursary package will continue to be available for those who commit in advance to work in Wales for up to two years post qualification. 

Of the 2180 students applying for the bursary in 2017/18, only 3% declined to work in Wales post-qualification, meaning the vast majority of students trained in Wales will work in Wales after their studies. 

The Health Secretary said: “Health care students are the future of our NHS, which is why, unlike in England, we are continuing to support them during their studies in return for a commitment to work in Wales. 

“This sends a clear message about how much we value our health care workforce and sets out our commitment to the future of our NHS.”

The Health Secretary added: “As well as a commitment to extending the bursary, we’re investing record levels in our NHS workforce. Since 2014, the number of nurse training places commissioned has increased by 68%. We’re also taking positive action to attract more health professionals from the UK and beyond to come to Wales, to train, work and live.”

_{Picture (c) Rui Vieira / PA Wire.}