Ms Anne O'Connor:

We very specifically count our student nurses as student nurses. It is important to acknowledge the very considerable contribution all students have made during Covid. We have a specific student count and one can see the numbers shifting as students graduate, usually around the month of September.

In terms of the payment of student nurses, the Deputy is right to say that has been an issue. They were paid during Covid as healthcare assistants and that ceased as they resumed their studies at college. It is an issue which has been raised and we are currently in discussions with the Department of Health. We are acutely aware that there are many different types of clinical students who do clinical placements across our system in terms of nursing, allied health professionals, radiographers, etc. It is currently a very live issue that is being discussed.