On 18 March, 2020, my son applied for a student loan to study Medicine at Barts & The London Medical School having been immediately accepted for September 2020. However, he graduated with a First in Biomedical Science in July 2019 making Medicine his second degree. We called Student Finance to check whether he could apply for a tuition loan for a Medical Degree. We were told with great confidence that he would qualify for a tuition loan as Medicine was considered an exemption to the rule which says you cannot receive funding for a second degree of the same level. We were given the wrong information.
On 12 April, my son received notice from Student Finance to say that he was not entitled to a tuition loan as this was a second degree.

This left us shocked and devastated as we were assured that he was entitled to a tuition loan. It is now uncertain if he can continue his medical degree as we do not have the financial means past the first year.
I am appalled that Student Finance can lump Medicine into a second degree category and that someone, who has been accepted to Medical School having gotten a First with Honours in their previous degree, does not automatically receive the benefit of a loan regardless. In addition, Biomedical Science is often taken prior to applying to Medicine making this a very common situation which now requires the attention of the Minister of State of Universities.

Certainly, you have seen the devastation that is happening in this country and across the globe because of the Covid-19 pandemic. You have seen the government beg for retired Doctors and Nurses to come back to help in the fight, to help save patients and the NHS from being decimated by this pandemic. You are most likely aware of  the national shortage of Doctors in general. In December, Matt Hancock said:  

“We are working hard to recruit and retain more family doctors, with the number of primary care professionals in general practice increasing over the last year."

My son currently worked 12 hour shifts, day and night, at Guys Hospital on a the Covid-19 positive/suspected Renal Ward during the height of the pandemic. He was on the front line of this battle with Covid-19. Even seeing what is happening first hand has not put him off wanting to be a doctor. In fact, it has reaffirmed his dedication.
Why then deny a tuition loan to a 21 year old (now 23) who desperately wants to be a doctor? It's a loan. It will be repaid. It is not giving him free money. Even if some would argue the government should incentivise people to go into the medical professions by helping with costs.

I know there are more people in this exact situation who may not be unable to pursue medicine due to lack of finances.
Surely, the current situation has proven that arbitrary barriers like this should be removed to provide those who have been offered a confirmed place in Medicine or Nursing the chance to continue and succeed even when it's a second degree.

The UK needs more doctors and nurses for the future health of the population.