Local nurse debt on the increase, warns RCN Northern Region

Published: 29 September 2008

The current financial climate is having an enormous effect on the region’s nurses, according to the Royal College of Nursing Northern Region (RCN). Figures released today by the trade union show a significant increase in the number of nurses contacting the RCN’s Welfare service for advice on levels of debt, including house repossessions.

The union is now dealing with an average of 33 cases of severe debt, including eight repossessions every month, an increase of 23 per cent on the same month last year. The union warns that nursing students are at particular risk as they face the prospect of meeting rising household costs on an average bursary of around £550 per month.

In addition, nurses who borrowed based on 100% mortgages are finding themselves unable to remortgage and are struggling to find extra payments to meet variable rates. When they are already struggling financially, this can lead to arrears and repossession proceedings. The RCN Welfare Service has managed to renegotiate repayments and stop repossession for an average of five households every month.

RCN Northern Regional Director, Glenn Turp said:

“With the economy under severe pressure, its not just nurses who are feeling the pinch. But with some health care assistants earning less than £13,000 a year and with food and fuel bills soaring, its not surprising that some of our members are defaulting on their mortgages. The financial situation is also a huge problem for our student nurses. We need to keep them in training in order to sustain the nursing workforce for the future, but some of them simply can not afford to study in the current climate.

“These figures show that nurses and health care assistants are struggling.  I am sure the Government realises that we are going to have to re-open talks on next year’s pay settlement.”

The RCN, together with the other unions representing NHS workers, are currently collating evidence to submit to the independent Pay Review Body in a bid to reopen talks on the 2009-2010 pay deal. The three-year pay deal, which was agreed earlier this year, includes a re-opener clause should inflation rise.

Ends

Notes to Editors

  • The Royal College of Nursing is the largest trade union representing nurses and health care assistants in the UK. We have 17,000 members in the Northern region.
  • For media enquiries only, please contact: Jake Turnbull (07825) 924 663.