STUDENT paramedics across Scotland are at crisis point, according to new research, which shows that 11% have considered suicide because of their financial position.
The study, from campaign group Pay Student Paramedics, said 95% of 200 respondents to a survey were concerned their money will not last long, 80% struggled to cope between pay periods, 57% have considered leaving their course because of finances and 83% are worried they are going to burn out.
Now almost 250 members of the campaign group are calling on all parties to commit to giving them a bursary equivalent to that received by nurses and midwives – £10,000 per year.
“We have the support of the College of Paramedics, Unite, Unison, GMB and before the election campaign began were supported by every political party, apart from the SNP,” said a campaign spokesperson.
“Since the launch of manifestos, the SNP have now included a pledge for a bursary.
“Our campaign call now is for the bursary to be implemented before September 2021.
“It is important paramedic students receive appropriate financial support from the Scottish Government so that they can focus on their studies and placements without worrying if they’ll be able to go home to food on the table and a roof over their head.”
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The group is run by student paramedics from five training universities across Scotland – GCU, RGU, UWS, QMU and Stirling – and said Scotland already has a shortage of paramedics, with 42,000 shifts not being covered.
They say the reality for most student paramedics is they receive no bursary of any kind and an average loan of £5500 a year, which means living on £480 to £540 a month – which for most covers their rent only.
Rory Maclean, a first year student at GCU, said: “This year under the pandemic has been made so much harder by not having a bursary, I’ve only got £200 a month after rent.
“It’s affected my studying and my mental health to the extent where I’ve had to get therapy to help with the anxiety.”
Other respondents commented anonymously. One said: “None of us deserve financial burden while studying to play such an important role within our communities, we are proud of what we are working towards, but we are shouting from the rooftops for help to enable us to continue our studies.”
Another complained that their mental health was at an all-time low, and a mother said: “Providing the same finding as nurses would help tremendously, my little boy can have his mummy back while she studies so one day, he can look up at her and tell her how proud he is of her and that he didn’t miss out when she was studying to provide them a positive bright and safe future.”
An anonymous student, who is also a carer, added: “On placement we’re expected to undertake around 40 hours per week, for weeks at a time.
“I’m a carer and I’m not allowed to work while on placement because this puts residents living with dementia and other conditions at extreme risk.
“I don’t know how you expect us to support ourselves through placements.”
A spokesperson for the SNP said: “The SNP is committed to working with students and funding agencies to put in place a bursary as quickly as is practicable to support student paramedics.”
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