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Written question asked by Lord Lilley (Conservative) on Monday, 24 April 2023, in the House of Lords. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 10 May 2023. It was answered by Lord Markham (Conservative) on Wednesday, 10 May 2023 on behalf of the Department of Health and Social Care.


Doctors and Nurses: Training

Question

To ask His Majesty's Government what is the cost of training (1) a doctor, and (2) a nurse; and how much of that cost is covered by student loans.

Answer

The Personal Social Services Research Unit (PSSRU) at the University of Kent estimates that the cost of training an individual doctor from the beginning of medical school through to the end of the foundation training programme is approximately £327,000. This includes salaries paid to the trainee during the foundation stage while they are working, living expenses and other costs of training. This includes costs borne by both the wider National Health Service and the individual undertaking the training.

PSSRU estimate the cost of training a nurse to be approximately £67,000. These estimates are published in their Unit Costs of Health and Social Care Manual.

The maximum amount that can be borrowed in student loans by an individual medical student is between £74,000 and £93,000 for a five-year course, depending on the individual’s living arrangements. From year five of an undergraduate course, and from year two of a graduate-entry course, medical students can also access the NHS Bursary. This is non-repayable and comprises payment for tuition fees and, where eligible, further grants and allowances.

The maximum amount that can be borrowed in student loans by an individual nursing student is between £53,000 and £67,000 for a three-year course, depending on the student’s living arrangements. In addition, since September 2020, all eligible nursing, midwifery and allied health profession students have received a non-repayable training grant of a minimum of £5,000 per academic year.


Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
HL7405
Session
2022-23
Subjects
Costs Doctors Finance Nurses Training Students
Contains statistics
Yes
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk