The Liberal Democrats have called on the government to reimburse student nurses for the tuition of their final term of teaching they have missed due to working on the frontline.
The letter to Matt Hancock from Liberal Democrat MPs Layla Moran, Munira Wilson and Sarah Olney states “given the financial hardship final year nurses have faced, and the commitment they have shown to serving the NHS during this pandemic, we ask that the Government directly reimburse student nurses for their final term of tuition fees.”
Following the letter, Liberal Democrat MP Sarah Olney said: “Many student nurses have heroically stepped up to the frontline during the coronavirus crisis. Instead of having their final term of teaching, they are working to save lives in the midst of an unprecedented global pandemic.
“However, they are still paying tuition fees for a course cut short by Covid-19. Although the Tories have thankfully reversed their decision to scrap nurses’ bursaries in 2015, this has still left the current cohort of final year nurses without financial support.
“It is not right that student nurses are paying fees for tuition they aren’t receiving, as they risk their own health to care for our loved ones during the pandemic. They are on the frontline working to slow the spread of the virus and provide critical care for those in need. The Government must step up and directly reimburse student nurses, it is the very least they can do.”