BURSARY OR BUST
We have called another march against the cuts to the NHS bursary. We are a grassroots, student led campaign and need your support! March with us for NHS bursaries and for the FUTURE OF THE NHS! We will assemble at 1pm and march to the Department of Health for speeches!
NHS bursaries are a LIFELINE for many - the cuts will affect podiatrists, physiotherapists, dental nurses, speech and language therapists, radiographers, occupational therapists, operating department practition...
BURSARY OR BUST
We have called another march against the cuts to the NHS bursary. We are a grassroots, student led campaign and need your support! March with us for NHS bursaries and for the FUTURE OF THE NHS! We will assemble at 1pm and march to the Department of Health for speeches!
NHS bursaries are a LIFELINE for many - the cuts will affect podiatrists, physiotherapists, dental nurses, speech and language therapists, radiographers, occupational therapists, operating department practitioners, midwives, nurses, dieticians and other AHP's.
We, NHS students, work up to 50% in clinical placements (full time) which is why the bursary is fundamental to us because working part time is very difficult. We are not asking for special treatment, we simply want to keep our financial support in order to be healthcare professionals. If the NHS bursary is cut, it will mean only those who can afford to pay will become healthcare professionals. We strongly believe that a diverse range of people in healthcare professions is important.
We believe that less people will want to train, or retrain, to be healthcare professionals. For nursing, the evidence shows that less equals higher mortality rates. There is currently a deficit of 24,000 nurses which is set to continue to grow. An apprenticeship route has also been proposed for nursing which would mean that those training would recieve approximately £3 an hour. We feel that this is incredibly unfair.
In Osborne's Autumn spending review, it was revealed that NHS bursaries would be cut and replaced with a loan system. Furthermore, with a freeze on loan repayment thresholds and a rigid Agenda for Change pay scale, NHS students who qualify into their professions will be dealt with further cuts in their pay. The NHS bursary campaigners support free education for all.
The imposition of a loan system is an attempt at breaking the tie between students and the NHS to pave the way for the complete dismantling of the health service in order to privatise and profit. NHS bursary cuts are simply the tip of the iceberg.
Please join us!
Supported by: The Peoples Assembly, DPAC, Momentum, King's College London Student Union, Unite, NUS, Unison,the RCN and GMB!
We will have a special performance from the AMAZING NHS CHOIR!!!
SPEAKERS INCLUDING:
Vivienne Westwood
Danielle Tiplady bursary or bust
Roger Mckenzie Assistant General Secretary of Unison
Steve Sweeney Nurse and The Peoples Assembly
Dr Aislinn Mcklin-Dougherty and Dr Lauren Gavaghan
Our amazing Helen Corry reading some of her wonderful and original poems
Ann Corry a patient and lover of the NHS
Paula Peters DPAC
Malia Bouattia, Black Students Officer (NUS), President-elect of NUS
Shelly Asquith VP for welfare NUS
More to follow very soon.....watch this space