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Health minister Karin Smyth has said the Government is keeping funding arrangements for trainee health professionals “under review” but failed to confirm whether her department has considered giving MPharm students full access to a bursary available to undergraduates on other courses.

Her comments came in response to a question from Liberal Democrat MP for South Devon Caroline Voaden, who asked what assessment the Department of Health and Social Care has made of the suitability of giving MPharm students full access to the NHS Learning Support Fund (LSF).

Ms Smyth replied: “For the 2025 to 2026 academic year, the Government extended the LSF scheme’s travel and dual accommodation expenses provision to pre-registration pharmacy and healthcare science students to ensure they are reimbursed for the additional costs of attending placements.

“These students cannot currently access other elements of the LSF.

“The Government keeps the funding arrangements for all healthcare students under close review.

“At all times the Government must strike a balance between the level of support students receive and the need to make best use of public funds to deliver value for money.”

Earlier this month, representative bodies including the Royal College of Pharmacy wrote to Ms Smyth urging her to push for MPharm students to have full access to the LSF, which includes a training grant of up to £5,000 per academic year.

The LSF is open to students on a wide range of courses, including dentistry, nursing, midwifery and physiotherapy.