The government has announced a new initiative offering upfront cash payments for healthcare students on placement.
Under the initiative, thousands of radiography learners and other health students will receive financial support for clinical placements to reduce the barriers to training from the start of the 2026/27 academic year.
The Society of Radiographers has welcomed the announcement from the Department of Health and Social Care on Wednesday 2 September, calling the scheme a “positive and progressive step.”
A significant challenge for learners
Nichola Browne, the SoR’s students and new professionals officer, said: “We welcome today's announcement from the Department of Health and Social Care on the introduction of advance payments for students receiving the NHS Learning Support Fund. The costs associated with clinical placements, including travel, accommodation and other related expenses, continue to present significant challenges for radiography learners and can place considerable pressure on student retention at a time when the future healthcare workforce is more important than ever.”
Students must currently cover the cost of travel and accommodation expenses when on placement themselves, and claim the money back at a later date, with expenses often running to hundreds of pounds.
The support will only be available to students with full access to the NHS Learning Support Fund, however, the Department for Health and Social Care said it plans to explore opening the funding to other student groups in future.
Investing in healthcare professionals
Nichola added: “It represents a positive and progressive step towards providing practical, accessible financial support for learners. We will continue to engage with our members across the UK to understand the impact of placement costs on their studies and training, and to advocate for measures that support their success.
“We hope this announcement will provide reassurance and much-needed relief for students preparing for the 2026/27 academic year, and further demonstrate the value of investing in the next generation of healthcare professionals."