Student nurses cutting back on food and bills as lifetime of debt fears grow

A recent survey reveals that nearly all student nurses in the UK are experiencing financial anxiety, with over half forced to reduce spending on food or essential bills to manage the escalating cost of living. This widespread hardship fuels growing concerns among future healthcare professionals about accumulating significant lifetime debt even before entering their careers. This dire situation is primarily driven by persistent high inflation and insufficient financial support for students, which together erode purchasing power and make essential living costs prohibitive. The broader macroeconomic environment, characterized by rising interest rates and slow economic growth across the UK, compounds these pressures, translating into a direct threat to the pipeline of critical healthcare workers and the long-term stability of the National Health Service.