Health Care

130 Euston Road London NW1 2AY

Tel: 0800 0 857 857 health@unison.co.uk www.unison.org.uk

Charlie Massey Department of Health Richmond House 79 Whitehall London SW1A 2NS 13th October 2015 Dear Charlie, Re: concern regarding the proposal to remove the NHS student bursary and replace it with student loans On Tuesday 30 June 2015, the Council of Deans of Health and Universities UK made a joint statement calling on the Government to look at whether the current grants-based system for nursing, midwifery and allied health professional education in England can be shifted to student loans. Our respective student bodies believe that the NHS student bursary should be adequately funded to ensure a living bursary. We believe that this would encourage students from all socioeconomic backgrounds to become healthcare professionals. We are also deeply concerned at the growing impact which student debt has on their future lives and career. We are worried that continued pay restraint will worsen the impact of debt and that this could influence their career choices encouraging them to seek employment outside of the NHS, either in the private sector, where pay levels are rising at an increased rate to those in the public sector or to apply overseas to work. We would seek your assurances and commitment that should, at any point, changes be considered to the existing scheme, it would be undertaken with a confirmed commitment to the following principles:-

• A preserved commitment to consultation & widening participation, to ensure that our future workforce reflects the society it seeks to care for;

• That funding should always seek to ensure that an equitable approach is maintained, one in which students from lower social economic groups are protected and have the same life opportunities as others;

• Prior to any changes being considered due regard will be given to ensuring full compliance with the Equalities Act 2010;

• Recognition of the impact that debt has on students when they graduate & into their careers. A commitment to monitoring and evaluating the impact of any changes to ensure they do not have a detrimental impact on our ablity to plan and maintain our future and retain our workforce.

We are also seeking an urgent meeting with you to discuss these issues and our concerns. Yours sincerely

Gail Adams Head of Nursing, UNISON

Tom Rock Chair of BMA Students Committee

Shelly Asquith NUS

RCN Student Committee

Denise Linay RCM

Stephanie Wilby BDA Cc: Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

Health Education England