Nursing and Midwifery Training Places Cuts Challenged

1.07.10pm BST (GMT +0100) Tue 5th Jun 2007

The decision of the Strategic Health Authority to cut training places for students at the UEA's School of Nursing and Midwifery by almost 30 percent is being challenged

Simon Wright, Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Spokesman for Norwich South, has raised his concerns with the Strategic Health Authority, and also with the Health Secretary Patricia Hewitt.

"These cuts are being made purely on financial grounds," says Mr Wright. "My biggest concern is over the long term treatment of our ageing population, and the shortage of midwives. With the loss of training places comes the loss of experienced health care trainers and lecturers - possibly forever. How is the health service going to cope with future challenges if we reduce the capacity to train new staff?"

"If these training cuts are being made purely for short term accounting, and as a result the NHS has to recruit agency workers at great expense in future, then its difficult to how these cuts can be justified."

"I have asked the Strategic Health Authority to comment on current staffing levels of midwives, and the future need for new recruits. A large number of midwives are approaching retirement age. I have also written to the Health Secretary Patricia Hewitt to express these concerns and to ask for her response."