Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what plans he has for student nurses whose final year unpaid placements are due to end in relation to (a) early qualification and (b) extended placements as a result of covid-19.

All student nurses are required to complete practice placements as part of their education programme. The Government is extremely grateful to all student nurses who have supported the COVID-19 response, by opting into a paid placement for their time in practice at the frontline during the pandemic.

There are also a number of students who have not been in paid placements during the pandemic and after 31 July, provision has been made for the return of supernumerary placements.

Health Education England is working locally with each higher education provider to ensure placements are available and is supporting students so that as many as possible graduate on time. For those final year students who may need to extend beyond three years, arrangements are being developed to ensure that they get the support that they need in order to graduate. Details of these arrangements will be communicated to students as soon as possible.

The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) has been clear that where a student has completed all their hours, academic assessment and university sign off they can go on to the NMC register and start their working life as a qualified nurse.