PARAMEDIC students in Scotland have won their demand for a £10,000 annual bursary following a year-long campaign which was highlighted by The National.
The support scheme was announced today by Health Secretary Humza Yousaf during a visit to an ambulance station in Dundee, where he met some of the student paramedics.
Around 668 will be eligible for the Paramedic, Nursing and Midwifery Student Bursary (PNMSB) for courses starting in September, with the number expected to rise to almost 900 next year.
Scottish-domiciled paramedic students who have already applied for undergraduate student funding do not need to re-apply, as the Student Awards Agency Scotland (SAAS) will automatically reassign students to the new funding package.
The award will be paid over 12 months each academic year.
Yousaf said: “The introduction of this bursary for our paramedic students fulfils this Government's pledge to bolster support for this crucial service.
“Paramedics have been a driving force in maintaining NHS services throughout the COVID-19 pandemic and I am determined to ensure we attract and support the next generation of these vital workers.
“Scottish student paramedics, studying in Scotland, will be able to apply for a bursary of £10,000 a year, compared with the £5000 bursary announced last year by the UK Government in England. “These Scottish paramedic students can also apply for other associated additional allowances.
“Scottish paramedic students studying in the rest of the UK will continue to receive the current undergraduate funding package of tuition fee loan, income-assessed living cost loans and bursary, as well as other additional grants they may be entitled to.
“Our allied health professionals are the third largest part of our NHS workforce and this announcement underlines our determination to remobilise the service as we emerge safely from the pandemic lockdown.”
We reported in April how paramedics across Scotland said they were “at crisis point”, after research from campaign group Pay Student Paramedics showed 11% of those surveyed said they had considered suicide because of their financial position and 57% had thought about quitting their course.
Rory McLean, from the group, told The National: “After a year of campaigning we have won the bursary for student paramedics in Scotland.
“The difference this will make to the lives of hundreds is gigantic. The pressures of food poverty, worrying about rent and mental health will all be eased.
“This bursary was won because student paramedics came together to fight against an obvious injustice.
“Our reports over the past year have shown the financial and mental strain completing this course without a bursary takes.
“We are glad the government has listened and put in place the measures we have been asking for.”
Chief executive of the Scottish Ambulance Service, Pauline Howie, described it as “fantastic news” and added: “They are an important part of our workforce and this announcement will be a real boost which will help encourage the paramedics of the future.
“Our staff do an amazing job each day and this additional financial support is welcome.
“Student paramedics have been in paid employment in a variety of roles during the pandemic and we are continuing to recruit additional staff across a variety of roles to help further improve services for patients.”
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