- Conference
- 2003 Health Care Service Group Conference
- Date
- 1 December 2002
- Decision
- Carried
The nursing sector welcomes the work that UNISON has done over the last 3 years to raise awareness on issues which effect-nursing students: specifically our campaign to return student nurses and midwives to salary and employment status. Whilst we recognise that entry figures are up in nurse diploma courses we believe that even more significant are the leaver rates. In addition the figures do not distinguish between overseas students and UK applicants. We deplore the fact that the Department of Health seems determined to apply bursaries to other healthcare professionals in training.
We welcome the monies made available by English Workforce Development Confederations to support secondment opportunities. However do not believe that it is sufficient to enable Health Care Assistants to maximise this opportunity. As a result there remain a significant number who are prevented from entering higher education because of the financial hardships involved.
It has become clear from local experience that students’ cases are often complex as university policies differ from institute to institute. We believe that there is a need to develop clear branch guidance to aid local reps in meeting the needs of student members.
We therefore call for the following:
1.Unison to continue to highlight the financial plight of students undertaking nursing or midwifery training, and to develop further material to support our claims;
2.In collaboration with regional health committees and the national union of students, guidance should be produced for representatives to use. This should reflect the most common problems arising in students’ casework.
3.For the Nursing Sector and SGE to work in collaboration with other appropriate sectors regarding the issue of bursaries. This will enable us to share best practice and work in partnership on an issue that is affecting increasing numbers of our members.
4.