Surgical student support
I've been reading the proposed changes to the current NHS student support arrangements because you know, I'm that kind of fun guy and I'm giving myself the afternoon off from assignments as I always try to do when I've handed something in.
One of the reasons I'm back at university at all is because of the differences in student support arrangements for NHS funded students. We have our tuition fees paid and we receive a means tested bursary, although this does disqualify us from the means tested portion of the student loan but is importantly, not repayable.
I do however feel somewhat cheated by the National Health when selling me this course, the implication was that as I would be supporting myself I would get a full bursary and the same loan as other students. These were the figures I used to make my calculations with and ultimately made my decision on. It turns out that I do get the same loan as other people, other people who have independent means or rich parents, as my NHS bursary is taken to be an income, where as a part time job for which I earned the same amount would not be. I also don't get the full bursary, I get the full basic rate of bursary to get the full £6000 a year as I was quoted one has to be supporting one's self and have dependants and a disability. While I don't begrudge people with children getting a higher rate of support, and heaven knows some of my friends with children find it harder than I do to make ends meet, it would be nice if I'd known the the quoted figures didn't apply to the 'average' student. The nature of the support I receive makes it more complicated, read it leads to a labyrinth of paperwork, in order to access hardship funds and such like. I have no illusions that I am disproportionally hard done by, all students are being screwed over by a supposedly Labour government, the less said about the recent CBI recommendations the better, and what I understand of America only the rich are allowed to go to university at all.
The options presented in the public consultation mostly consist of re-balancing the means tested, bursary and loan amounts, adding more here, taking some there. A couple of options listed talk of minimum income levels, a surprise when it comes to student support as I have always been under the impression that we don't count when it come to calculating those living below the breadline. One in particular stands out as it is what most people I have spoken to on this subject take to be the ideal situation, that of the NHS actually paying student nurses, student radiographers, and students of all the included healthcare professions a wage for the time they are training. Under this proposal we would receive national minimum wage, which is higher for those over 22, those classed as mature students, paid as a salary from the NHS along with all the NI and tax contributions this usually includes. This seems to be the best option for students, especially mature students, it would provide more than just a non-repayable source of income, it would provide a sense of security and link the work we do in placement and in academic to our earnings. We have longer terms than almost all other students in the university, no undergrads have longer, a fuller timetable, more assessments and are expected to maintain professional standards throughout our course today, for example today we were advised not to use facebook as unbecoming photo's and comments can appear all to easily and lead to allegations of unprofessionalism which are on the rise. I have also worked in departments where student radiographers have been relied upon to fill gaps in staffing cover over short periods of time, only to have to be unable to come into work as I have run out of money for train fare. While we are unqualified and only ever working with supervision I can't help but think that if we were paid for the time we spent working in department then we would feel more a part of the team and it would not be unreasonable for us to be relied upon more.
There are many details to be clarified with this proposal although I'm certain they will never be, as it is by far the most expensive of all options put forward and as option one is to do nothing, the cheapest suggestion, I have no doubt that the government will fall short of providing the best possible future for the NHS.
One of the reasons I'm back at university at all is because of the differences in student support arrangements for NHS funded students. We have our tuition fees paid and we receive a means tested bursary, although this does disqualify us from the means tested portion of the student loan but is importantly, not repayable.
I do however feel somewhat cheated by the National Health when selling me this course, the implication was that as I would be supporting myself I would get a full bursary and the same loan as other students. These were the figures I used to make my calculations with and ultimately made my decision on. It turns out that I do get the same loan as other people, other people who have independent means or rich parents, as my NHS bursary is taken to be an income, where as a part time job for which I earned the same amount would not be. I also don't get the full bursary, I get the full basic rate of bursary to get the full £6000 a year as I was quoted one has to be supporting one's self and have dependants and a disability. While I don't begrudge people with children getting a higher rate of support, and heaven knows some of my friends with children find it harder than I do to make ends meet, it would be nice if I'd known the the quoted figures didn't apply to the 'average' student. The nature of the support I receive makes it more complicated, read it leads to a labyrinth of paperwork, in order to access hardship funds and such like. I have no illusions that I am disproportionally hard done by, all students are being screwed over by a supposedly Labour government, the less said about the recent CBI recommendations the better, and what I understand of America only the rich are allowed to go to university at all.
The options presented in the public consultation mostly consist of re-balancing the means tested, bursary and loan amounts, adding more here, taking some there. A couple of options listed talk of minimum income levels, a surprise when it comes to student support as I have always been under the impression that we don't count when it come to calculating those living below the breadline. One in particular stands out as it is what most people I have spoken to on this subject take to be the ideal situation, that of the NHS actually paying student nurses, student radiographers, and students of all the included healthcare professions a wage for the time they are training. Under this proposal we would receive national minimum wage, which is higher for those over 22, those classed as mature students, paid as a salary from the NHS along with all the NI and tax contributions this usually includes. This seems to be the best option for students, especially mature students, it would provide more than just a non-repayable source of income, it would provide a sense of security and link the work we do in placement and in academic to our earnings. We have longer terms than almost all other students in the university, no undergrads have longer, a fuller timetable, more assessments and are expected to maintain professional standards throughout our course today, for example today we were advised not to use facebook as unbecoming photo's and comments can appear all to easily and lead to allegations of unprofessionalism which are on the rise. I have also worked in departments where student radiographers have been relied upon to fill gaps in staffing cover over short periods of time, only to have to be unable to come into work as I have run out of money for train fare. While we are unqualified and only ever working with supervision I can't help but think that if we were paid for the time we spent working in department then we would feel more a part of the team and it would not be unreasonable for us to be relied upon more.
There are many details to be clarified with this proposal although I'm certain they will never be, as it is by far the most expensive of all options put forward and as option one is to do nothing, the cheapest suggestion, I have no doubt that the government will fall short of providing the best possible future for the NHS.