Justin Madders MP, Labour’s Shadow Health Minister, responding to the news that nursing student numbers in England have fallen by a further 4% in the past year, said:

“Ever since the Government first proposed removing the nurse bursary we have warned it would have disastrous consequences for the future nursing workforce.

“These figures are the latest in a long line showing that at every turn this policy is as damaging as Labour warned.

“At a time when record numbers of nurses are leaving the profession, the Government urgently needs to bring back nursing bursaries before patient safety is compromised.”