STUDENT nurses in the North-west can not survive on the current bursary system, according to public services union Unison.

The average bursary of a student nurse in the region is £5,562 for the whole year and many have to get other jobs to subsidise their studies or leave the profession.

Regional officers of Unison are due to meet with North-west MPs in a bid to get a decent wage.

Research showed that almost half the student nurses in the UK owed up to £1,000 and six per cent were more than £10,000 in debt. Student nurses with children were the worst off, with many under pressure to work extra shifts.