Million Plus

In a joint letter to the Chancellor of the Exchequer Jeremey Hunt MP, the Association for Modern Universities MillionPlus and the Royal College of Nursing have called for a model of fee loan forgiveness for nurses who practice in the public services..

"It is our belief that there is an excessive level of risk to the future pipeline in registered nursing and that the NHS Long Term Workforce Plan, of which you were proud, is at risk of appearing unviable or irrelevant," the letter states. "The critical shortfall of nursing staff poses a significant threat to the NHS’ ability to navigate forthcoming challenges.

The letter goes on to outline the scale of the issue before identifying a root cause of the problem:

"To fulfill the ambitious goals outlined in the NHS Long Term Workforce Plan, the annual intake of nursing students needs to average 29,000 between 2023 and 2031, solely to meet the NHS's staffing requirements. Universities, and in particular modern universities who train around 70% of new nurses, stand ready to meet this challenge. However, the current pipeline, represented by the 2023/24 nursing student cohort, stands at only 22,470, highlighting a significant shortfall. To further complicate matters, current recruitment efforts primarily rely on overseas professionals, posing long-term sustainability challenges for the NHS. Further compounding this critical situation, university admission figures reveal a worrying 26% decline in nursing applications over the past two years, making a bad situation worse.

"The burden of student debt coupled with real terms cuts in maintenance grants for nursing students act as significant disincentives for talented individuals to pursue this vital career path. These financial pressures are part of a vicious cycle of understaffing, ultimately jeopardising the quality of care delivered by our NHS."

Then the letter proposes a model of fee loan forgiveness to remove the financial disincentive that exists:

"To address this critical challenge, we urge you to seize the opportunity presented by the Spring Budget and invest in a loan forgiveness model for nursing graduates working in public services. This innovative solution holds the potential to attract and maintain a diverse and talented workforce. Removing financial barriers will entice more individuals to pursue a long-term career in nursing, bolstering the domestic workforce and ensuring its future resilience.

"Investing in nursing transcends mere financial considerations; it represents an investment in local people and local communities, and the immediate and enduring well-being of our society. By empowering nursing staff to deliver exceptional, personalised care, we not only reduce reliance on expensive agency staff but also cultivate a healthier, more productive population, generating ripple effects throughout society.

"Following the substantial changes in higher education fees and funding announced by the Department for Education in 2023/24, MillionPlus, the Association for Modern Universities, commissioned London Economics to update the cost of implementation calculations, based on current 2023-24 prices. While the initial Exchequer cost of a loan forgiveness model is estimated at £235 million annually, this sum pales in comparison to the long-term economic and social benefits."

Read the letter in full below:

Download Letter to the Chancellor from MillionPlus and the RCN »