Consensus is that NHS staffing shortages, especially in nursing, are of paramount importance. Fully agree. But the conversation around bursaries has gone a bit quiet amidst more eye-catching announcements… #GE2019 #NHS 1/6

June 2018: Independent NHS Pay Review Body singled out the decision to end nursing bursaries as having a seriously adverse impact on recruitment and forecast ongoing nursing shortages until 2027 without prompt corrective action. 2/6

March 2019: ‘Closing the Gap’, the joint recommendations of @thekingsdund, @healthfdn and @nuffieldtrust on staffing, recommended cost of living grants for nurses @ £5,200 a year + covering the costs of tuition fees. 3/6

June 2019: The Interim NHS People’s Plan acknowledged the damage done by the government scrapping bursaries, BUT didn’t recommend corrective action, and was criticized for this by the King’s fund. 4/6

November 2019: Labour manifesto renews 2017 commitment to reinstating nursing bursaries, and pledges 5% pay increase for nurses…. Also promises to end tuition fees, widely acknowledged as a barrier to recruitment into nursing degree courses. 5/6

Reinstating the bursary is something our most respected independent voices in health policy have made the case for...
...It’s also supported by every nurse I know!
#GE2019 @healthfdn @kingsfund @nuffieldtrust 6/6

@BorisJohnson was just asked about bursaries on #bbcqt but didn’t answer, preferring to reminisce about when he was major of London instead. #GE2019