National Health Service unit of England suffers a shortage of nurses. Financial incentives, nursing bursary, and grants are some funding measures presently being considered to tackle the increasing lack of nurses in England.
Cause of National Health Service shortage of nurses
The funding reforms for student nurses in 2015 presented a negative shift in the training of new nurses, and a subsequent drop in the nursing workforce. There are over 40,000 nursing vacancies yet to be filled-up in England’s health service. More so, annual nursing degree applications have reduced by 10,000 persons. Also, the Royal College of Nursing experienced a 29% reduction in applications and the number of acceptances onto courses reduced by 8%.
Mr. George Osborne had announced that nursing bursaries take up a large amount of money, about £800 million in government spending. Hence, the conversion of scholarship to student loans had relieved the government of the burden of £800 million. However, NHS bodies in England have experienced otherwise, as it is challenging to employ indigenous nurses.
National Health Service solutions
The National Health Service bodies and the government are considering ways of restoring funding to support student nurse through college. Also in this funding discussions are the Department of Health and Social Care, Health Education England, and the service staffing agency, all representing England’s 240 NHS trusts.
The chief executive of the National Health Service, Simon Stevens, mentioned that nursing bursaries are also being considered. Cost of living grant within the range of £3,000 to £5,000 is an additional funding opportunity for student nurses.
These fund sources will be available to some selected student nurses, paramedics, podiatrists, and other health professionals. Specifically, mental health and disability nursing applications will be given more considerations for funding.
Nursing students debts accrued doing a first degree
The consortium is also looking at the benefits of writing off nursing students debts accrued doing a first degree. However, the ministers are cautious not to take that step because of the amount of money involved. Kinnair, the chief executive of the Royal College of Nursing, agrees with the need to reintroduce funding for student nurses. She highlighted that it might require investing about £1bn a year into nursing education to cover both tuition and living costs for the students. Doing this will encourage students to enroll for a nursing degree, Dame Donna Kinnair added.
The deputy chief executive of NHS Providers, Saffron Cordery, applauded the commitment of the National Health Service to increase students’ enrollment for nursing programs. He said, “The commitment towards greater financial support for nursing students would be extremely welcome if implemented.
The shortage of nurses and the low rate of applications for training shows that the current financial offer for nursing students is inadequate. Additionally, it is hoped that with the rise in demand for nursing care, there would be progress towards filling these vacancies to ensure that services are safe and appropriately staffed.
