HEE Chief Nurse Mark Radford statement for student nurses

We would like to thank all those students who were able to come forward to support the NHS at this challenging time. It has been hugely appreciated. To be clear it is absolutely untrue to suggest that student nurses and midwives are being made redundant, all student nurses and midwives are required to complete placements during their training. These placements are normally unpaid but to recognise the special circumstances and as part of the response to Covid-19 these hours have been paid and will be until the end of summer. NHS England has been provided with the funding for student salaries as part of the response to Covid.

Year 3 students will be paid till 31^st of July and if they have completed hours and assessments can qualify and be paid as a full registered nurses. They will move from Band 4 to Band 5 and therefore increase their pay. Any Year 3 student who has hours to complete will be paid until September to allow them to do this. Any year 2 students on placement till July 31st will be paid and after this normal non-paid placements will be re-introduced along with Year 1 students. We committed at the outset of the pandemic to ensure that these students complete their training and are able to qualify. It was always made clear to students who opted into paid placements the arrangements would need to come to an end at an appropriate point so that students could return to their supernumerary status to complete their registered nursing qualifications as quickly as possible to permanently enter the NHS workforce .

It was agreed by all partners, including the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) and Council of Deans (CoD) and unions, to support these arrangements. This means any final year student who has been working in the NHS will receive funding until they complete their programme and then they will be able to register with the NMC and apply for a permanent role as a registered Nurse.