TRUSTPOLITICS

Reform nurse education funding, cancel debt & reinstate bursaries

651
signatures
closedDepartment of Health and Social CareOpened 22 December 2025Closed 22 June 2026

Background

Abolish tuition fees for nurse training, reinstate the NHS nursing bursary, and forgive existing student loan debt for nurses working in the NHS.

Additional details

Newly qualified nurses in England often graduate with over £60,000 of debt. Research by the the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) and London Economics suggests that forgiving nurse student debt could retain nurses 7–10 years longer and save the NHS over £1bn. We believe that the current funding model dissuades people from entering nursing and worsens staff shortages.

Where it’s popular

Constituencies with the most signatures on this petition.

Hastings and RyeHelena Dollimore
10
GuildfordZöe Franklin
9
HalifaxKate Dearden
7
Birmingham Selly OakAl Carns
7
BraintreeSir James Cleverly
6
Birmingham Perry BarrAyoub Khan
6
HalesowenAlex Ballinger
6
South CambridgeshirePippa Heylings
5
Barrow and FurnessMichelle Scrogham
5
ChelmsfordMarie Goldman
5
Great Grimsby and CleethorpesMelanie Onn
5
Birmingham EdgbastonPreet Kaur Gill
4
ThurrockJen Craft
4
Louth and HorncastleVictoria Atkins
4
West WorcestershireDame Harriett Baldwin
4
Calder ValleyJosh Fenton-Glynn
4
Kingswinford and South StaffordshireMike Wood
4
Kingston upon Hull West and HaltempriceEmma Hardy
4
LincolnMr Hamish Falconer
4
Birmingham ErdingtonPaulette Hamilton
3

Source: UK Government & Parliament Petitions service. Petition ID: 751371.