In News

Follow this topic

Bookmark

Record learning outcomes

Labour has indicated there are “no immediate plans” to heed the health select committee’s recommendation to give MPharm students access to an NHS-funded learning bursary as it emphasised the Government’s goal “to deliver value for money”. 

Independent MP for Leicester South Shockat Adam, who is also an optometrist, had written to health secretary Wes Streeting to ask what plans are in place to extend the eligibility criteria for the NHS Learning Support Fund to include undergraduate and postgraduate pharmacy students.

Including pharmacists and pharmacy technicians on the list of professions eligible for the fund – which comprises four elements, including up to £5,000 a year in training grants – was one of the recommendations made by the health select committee following its pharmacy inquiry. 

In a written response to Mr Adam that was issued yesterday (February 24), Labour health minister Karin Smyth said: “There are no immediate plans to make changes to the NHS Learning Support Fund scheme design.”

Ms Smyth added: “The Government keeps the funding arrangements for all healthcare students under close review.

“At all times, the Government must strike a balance between the level of support students receive and the need to make best use of public funds to deliver value for money.”

Labour has previously indicated that it may review the level of funded university training on offer to pharmacy professionals. 

Responding to the health select committee’s recommendations in January, the Government said: “MPharm students are outside of the scope of the Learning Support Fund (LSF) as it only applies to those courses which were eligible for the NHS Bursary prior to the 2017 reforms.

“We will consider the professions eligible for the learning support fund as part of the refresh of the Long-Term Workforce Plan. 

“The Department of Health and Social Care is working with NHS England to explore how to introduce a single, consistent policy for funding excess travel and accommodation costs incurred by MPharm students on placements.”

A number of cross-party MPs have lobbied for a change in the eligibility criteria since the Pharmacists’ Defence Association launched its ‘fair funding’ campaign in 2023.

In an update on February 15, the PDA said that while it welcomed the commitment to review reimbursement of travel and accommodation expenses as a “partial success,” it will continue to push for full eligibility for the learning support fund.