Protect and Pay Student Nurses

At the start of the pandemic, student nurses were being paid to staff wards and make up the staffing shortfall in the NHS. Since September these payments stopped, despite the current wave of Covid19 putting Northern Ireland's hospitals under pressure like never before.

Students Nurses work 37.5hrs per week on clinical placement at the rate of £2.86 per hour under the current bursary of £430 per month. This does not meet basic cost of living standards.

Paid less than the national minimum wage.

Northern Ireland bursary has not been increased whereas Scotland's bursary is increased year to year.

The majority of students still have to work part time on top of placement to be able to live month to month. Due to covid placement areas students are restricted to where they can work if at all

Students are working in Covid wards and are at the same risk of as a paid member of staff. Students do not receive sick pay.

Many students have incurred costs from covid-19 pandemic from moving out of home due to vulnerable family members at risk. No support available.

These student nurses are the future of our NHS. They deserve to be paid for the risks they are taking at the frontline of this pandemic.