Insert Sender

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30 September 2009
0115 823 2151




                                                               Institute of Multiprofessional Education and Learning
                                                   & Centre for Postgraduate Medical and Dental Education (North)

                                                                                              Head Quarters Office
Professor Mark Avis                                                                        University of Nottingham
                                                                                           Kings Meadow Campus
Head of School of Nursing, Midwifery                                                                   Lenton Lane
and Physiotherapy                                                                           Nottingham NG7 2NR
Room B2, Medical School
University of Nottingham                                                                       Tel: 0115 846 7165
Queens Medical Centre                                                                          Fax: 0115 823 2156
Nottingham NG7 2UH




Dear Professor Avis

The Department of Health has launched a consultation on the NHS bursary scheme to seek
views from stakeholders on what the financial support for healthcare students should be in the
future.

The consultation is on the Department of Health website at:
http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Consultations/Liveconsultations/DH_105110

A presentation pack has been prepared for HEIs to enable you to update your students on the
consultation, to discuss the issues and encourage them to reply. This pack will be emailed to you
along with a copy of this letter within the next day or two. This has been produced in conjunction
with the Review of NHS Student Support Steering Group whose membership includes the Royal
College of Nursing, British Medical Association, National Union of Students, Council of Deans of
Health and NHS Employers.

We want students and other stakeholders to consider the options for future student support
arrangements. The options are, in broad terms;

1. Retain the current scheme
2. Provide a means-tested bursary and a non-means-tested loan for all students
3. Provide a non-means-tested bursary for all students
4. Move NHS-funded students to the same support arrangements as all other students in higher
   education
5. Employ all students whilst they are studying.

In addition, the consultation asks;

 whether medical and dental students from the lowest socio-economic groups should be
  included within the bursary scheme for their entire degree
 what the mechanism should be for adding new professions to the scheme
 whether different levels of support should be provided to students dependent on where they
  live whilst they study, and
 how the provision of financial information to students can be improved




East Midlands Healthcare Workforce Deanery is a part of, and accountable to East Midlands Strategic Health Authority.
                                                         2



We would be grateful if you could use the information to encourage participation in this
consultation. The deadline to respond to the consultation is 11 December 2009.

Yours sincerely




Peter Rolland
Head of Education Commissioning




East Midlands Healthcare Workforce Deanery is a part of, and accountable to East Midlands Strategic Health Authority.