In service training programmes, loan allocation or a revised bursary scheme are the options being considered by the government as it reviews funding available to NHS students.
On the advice of a national steering group, members of parliament will review existing schemes supporting NHS pre-diploma students and graduates.
The steering group includes unions, professional bodies the Department of Health, Education Institutions and student body representatives.
Over the past 12 months it has conducted research to suggest a number of options to improve the system.
All options were then costed and, in discussion with the HM Treasury, the most feasible were identified and are now the subject of a Department of Health Consultation.
Warren Town, director of industrial relations, was lead representative on the group for the SoR. He explained: "The Society will formally respond to the consultation and seeks the views of current students on how they view the existing support programme.
"We are conscious that the recent SoR Student Survey illustrated a desire for current students to support in service training programmes. This option does have some support from some sections within the NHS and high education institutions. There would be considerable costs involved in setting up and managing these schemes, however the option has not been discounted and may operate alongside a revised bursary and loan allocation."
The consultation, Supporting our future NHS workforce: a consultation on the NHS Bursary Scheme, runs until 11 December 2009 – though the DH says the changes are 'unlikely to take place until 2012'.
Said Town: "Any revision to the current scheme will operate for the foreseeable future and therefore it is important that we get this right."
To share your views as part of the Society's response, email SoR student officer Samantha Jewell by 16 October 2009.
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