STUDENTS starting NHS courses in Wales in September 2019 will continue to be eligible for the NHS bursary, despite the scheme being scrapped in England.

First minister Carwyn Jones announced the news at the Welsh Labour spring conference at the weekend.

And health secretary Vaughan Gething confirmed that the bursary, which is available for student nurses, midwives, and allied health professionals, will be extended for those who commit in advance to work in Wales for up to two years post qualification.

Mr Gething said: “Health care students are the future of our NHS, which is why, unlike in England, we are continuing to support them during their studies in return for a commitment to work in Wales.

“This sends a clear message about how much we value our health care workforce and sets out our commitment to the future of our NHS.”

In the last academic year, 2,180 students applied for the bursary, and only three percent declined to work in Wales after qualifying.

Mr Gething added: “As well as a commitment to extending the bursary, we’re investing record levels in our NHS workforce. Since 2014, the number of nurse training places commissioned has increased by 68 percent.

“We’re also taking positive action to attract more health professionals from the UK and beyond to come to Wales, to train, work and live.”

Tina Donnelly, the Director of the Royal College of Nursing in Wales, had welcomed the news that the student bursary – funding for health care workers while they train – is to continue in Wales for at least the next year.

The bursary was scrapped for English students in 2017.

“On behalf of all our members, many of whom are working in very difficult circumstances as the gap between the numbers of nurses being recruited to replace those who are leaving the profession widens – I am delighted that here in Wales something positive is being done to reverse that trend.

“The Cabinet Minister for Health and Social Services, Vaughan Gething’s pledge to continue the bursary for all nurses training in the 2019 cohort is in addition the Welsh Government’s campaign to increase recruitment of health care professionals in Wales with its Train, Work, Live campaign and the additional money pledged to healthcare earlier this year.

“This is very welcome news and the RCN in Wales forward to working with the Welsh Government in the future to further develop sustainable workforce planning that will ensure that patients get the quality of care that they deserve.”

Mr Gething described health care students as “the future of our NHS”, adding: “This is why, unlike in England, we are continuing to support them during their studies in return for a commitment to work in Wales. 

“This sends a clear message about how much we value our health care workforce and sets out our commitment to the future of our NHS.”