Who is Helen Whately and what did she say about student nurses?

HELEN Whately is in the headlines for falling out with student nurses, among other things.

The new Care Minister is responsible for the decision to discharge people out of hospital beds and into care homes during the peak of the coronavirus crisis.

1

Helen Whately, 44, is the MP for Faversham and Mid Kent, having served since 2015.

She is an Oxford graduate and a former management consultant.

During her five year political career she has had a history of clashes with TV personalities including Piers Morgan.

A clash in April on Good Morning Britain ended up with 2,000 Ofcom complaints against Morgan who was accused of bullying after he called her "utterly useless".

She was in trouble in June 2020 when she suggested that the Government could blame scientists over the handling of coronavirus patients being sent to care homes to free up hospitals.

In a massive on-air blunder Ms Whately said she could "stick it" to the scientists over the deaths of more than 12,000 people in care homes.

Whately is the new Minister for State at the Department for Health and Social Care.

She was appointed on February 13, 2020, during the early stages of Britain's battle with coronavirus.

She has previously served as Deputy Chair of the Tories.

Whately is now accused of making student nurses who risk their lives fighting coronavirus for notoriously little pay feel "worthless".

She told nurse Jessica Collins that NHS student nurses are "not deemed to be providing a service".

There is an ongoing outcry from student nurses who signed a six-month contract when the call went out for our medics to save the nation in April.

The Tories have now cancelled that contract and it will expire in July as there are fewer patients.

Ms Collins wrote to her MP to point out that her coronavirus-fighting cohort were being left out of pocket because they fell into a gap between an old bursary system and one which is going to be launched for the 2021 intake.

The MP, Tom Pursglove, wrote to Mrs Whately to get clarification for Jessica.

In her reply, Mrs Whately wrote: "Student nurses are supernumerary and are not deemed to be providing a service.

"They are required to undertake 2,300 hours of clinical practice to learn the skills necessary for entry to the workforce.

"Whilst they may be providing limited clinical duties, this is under close supervision and they are not being paid to staff hospitals."

In the letter Mrs Whately went on to thank Ms Collins for her service: "Now more than ever we value the NHS workforce and appreciate the dedicated care that they provide and I would like to thank Ms Collins for pursuing a career in the NHS"

Jessica called the response "a slap in the face" and many other student nurses have noted that the tune has changed somewhat from a few months ago, and want an apology.

INDEPENDENCE DAYBoris slashes 2m rule, allows overnight stays and reopens pubs on July 4

LOCKED DOWNNew lockdown for 100,000 Germans after abattoir outbreak infects 1,500 workers

TRAGIC ENDLiz Hurley's ex Steve Bing, 55, dies in suspected suicide after apartment fall

'A TERRIBLE END'Liz Hurley 'saddened beyond belief' after ex Steve Bing's 'suicide' fall

PARK ATTACKGirl, 15, raped by man who pretended to need to use her phone

BACK TO SCHOOLKids 'should get 3 weeks in class BEFORE summer' under 1m rule

Mrs Whately said in a press statement: “The whole country is grateful to student nurses for their heroic work on the NHS frontline during this unprecedented global pandemic.

“Supernumerary status for student nurses is a technical definition created to ensure they have the space and time to learn, and it is widely supported across the nursing profession.

“There is a strong financial aid package for nurses and going forwards we have introduced even further support for nursing, midwifery and many allied health profession students consisting of a £5,000 to £8,000 grant to help with maintenance and associated study costs, which does not need to be paid back."