Student nurses have told of their financial struggles over the rising cost of studying - and claim it could be discouraging those from underprivileged backgrounds from nursing. 

The NHS Trust's decision to bring back hospital staff parking charges has triggered criticism from student nurses across North Yorkshire and the North East.

It comes as many have claimed that nursing is getting too expensive during the cost-of-living crisis.

Whilst on placement in hospitals, student nurses can expect to work more than 40 hours a week for free alongside studying - and stump up for their parking permits, petrol, and public transport expenses. 

Many are also prevented from working due to the intensiveness of their course, so studying is financially difficult for students from low socio-economic backgrounds, or students who have dependents. 

Read more: Parking charges return for County Durham and Darlington NHS staff

Lauren Theresa, 30, is a nurse and mother of three under eight. Having just finished a three-year degree, she has found the lack of support for mature students and families "disgusting". 

She says: "Childcare costs are the biggest obstacle - I've had to use all of my student finance and learning support fund to pay for it, leaving us to live off of just my husband's wage.

"We're behind on bills, in debt with credit cards, and arrears with the nursery. I have tried to work three times during my studies, but I burn out, and it just means paying for even more childcare."

Often, being on placement prevents student nurses from getting part-time work, as shift patterns are irregular and the work is exhausting. Students are unable to supplement their student loans with part-time work - or are left "shattered" from 50 to 60-hour work weeks.

A student nurse from Middlesbrough told us: "I had to work additional jobs through the whole three years of my course - it is that, or starve and default on my mortgage.

"When on full-time placement I've done at least one, sometimes two full days of work on top of 37.5 hours of placement work, which comes to a minimum of 50-hour weeks, not including commute time. My days off are usually spent in bed - I'm so exhausted I feel hungover."

"The cost of studying nursing puts people off - the wages you get at the end don't reflect the level of responsibility you have and the fact that you are doing the job of two or three people due to staffing issues."

There are schemes in place to prevent nurses-in-training from paying out of pocket for placements, but as the cost of living rises, these are becoming less effective. 

The Learning Support Fund grants student nurses £5,000 a year, but "barely touches the sides", and is increasingly being eaten up by living expenses. When it comes to the cost-of-living crisis, nurses say that they are "scared" and "definitely feeling it more than others". 

An anonymous student nurse on placement at Airedale Hospital said: "Nursing students are effectively paying tuition fees to work for free, as placements are described as part of our learning, so being asked to pay for our travel is a bit ridiculous. 

"Many wards are overjoyed to have a student on shift, as it's a much-needed pair of hands when staff is off sick. Without students, hospitals would have struggled even more during the pandemic."

When it comes to "lacklustre" financial support, those from disadvantaged backgrounds are disproportionately affected and may be discouraged from applying to nursing courses.

"Student nurses aren't all school leavers,"  our source said, "there are many over 25s with kids. They have to pay for childcare, and the support available is just not enough."

With an increasing number of mature students training as nurses, many think there need to be better support systems. In 2020, UCAS reported that 29 percent of those accepted onto nursing courses are over 30, which grows yearly. 

Statistics from The Nursing Times show a 40.1 percent rise in students 35 and above and a 24.7 percent increase in students aged 25 to 29. 

When asked for comment, a Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said:  "Since September 2020, all eligible Nursing, Midwifery and Allied Health Professionals have been eligible for non-repayable grants worth at least £5,000 per year and potentially as much as £8,000 per year through the Learning Support Fund.

"This offer is in addition to the standard maintenance and tuition fee loans package. Students only repay these loans provided they earn above a certain threshold and any outstanding amount is written off after 30 years, with no detriment to the borrower."

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