Durkan: Executive must act on student nurses payment

SDLP Social Justice Spokesperson Mark H Durkan has pressed the First and Deputy First Ministers to introduce a payment for student nurses undertaking placement and working throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, similar to what was introduced under the first wave.

Both England and the Republic of Ireland have already introduced similar support payments for student nurses working in the fight against Covid.

Said the Foyle MLA “Our student nurses and midwives are playing a vital role as an integral supporting pillar within the health service in the battle against Covid.

“Their selfless service at the coal face of Covid will not be forgotten.

“However, as the financial and economic realities of the crisis deepens, it is crucial that a payment in recognition of their efforts is reinstated. With the threat of the virus very much still present within our communities, I had appealed to the Health Minister to reinstate the same payment opportunity previously on offer.

“Minister Swann had previously justified this to me as being a UK wide position but given that the Nursing and Midwifery Council has reintroduced paid clinical placements for students in England, I have again asked the Executive to take similar action for student nurses here.

“All of our nurses have been forced to make extreme sacrifices in order to provide care to their patients, every day putting themselves at risk.

“In any other profession, staff would be expecting hazard pay. For student nurses not receiving any payment for those efforts is not only unacceptable but nothing short of slave labour.

“I’ve heard heartfelt pleas from many student nurses who are suffering serious financial hardship as a result of this crisis.

“Bursary payments are meagre at best.

“Many have lost other part time jobs and in the absence of further financial assistance some have even considered dropping out of their course in order to source full time paid work elsewhere.

“They were the extra pair of hands, the pillars that kept the health service standing in recent months.

“That must be repaid in kind by helping them keep a roof over their heads and food on their tables- a comparatively minor ask.

“They deserve to paid for the immense work they have done thus far.

“The Executive must not delay this necessary provision any longer,” added Mr Durkan.

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