UNISON statement regarding student paid placements

We’re aware of concerns amongst student nurses in England about funding being withdrawn for your paid placements.

We have been reassured that funding will remain available to allow those who have taken up paid placements to continue until these placements are completed. Those in your final year will be supported at the end of your placements, if you are ready, to join the full NMC register so you can begin working as a fully qualified nurse at band 5.

We are in dialogue with the health system about how the current emergency arrangements are working and the UNISON Student Nurse Network has been working with us on student’s concerns. We are reviewing the emergency arrangements with policy makers and soon hope to be able to share more information about the next stages.

UNISON has insisted throughout that no student nurses are financially disadvantaged by the emergency situation and will continue doing so. We also continue to actively campaign for tuition fees to be reimbursed for current nursing students in England and for student-paid fees to be dropped.