Nurses from across the country gathered in London for the Queen’s Nurses' annual meeting.

More than 200 nurses came together to hear inspiring speakers and discuss the anticipated impact of the removal of the student nurse bursary.

The theme that ran through the day was the need to illustrate just how big a contribution nursing makes to patients, families and entire communities.

The biggest topic of discussion was the anticipated impact of the removal of the student nurse bursary and the introduction of tuition fees. The cap on contracted student numbers will be removed because Health Education England will no longer be providing funding to deliver courses. Instead, nursing students will be offered the opportunity to take out a student loan for their tuition fees and their living costs (bit.ly/Nursebursary).

Universities are delighted that there will be no restriction on the number of nursing students they can recruit, but the current lack of student placements in community and primary care is already creating serious concern. This is precisely where we need students to be experiencing an excellent placement, to inspire them to work there on qualifying.

The anticipated change in the age profile of applicants, reducing the number for whom nursing is a second career, might also have a disproportionate effect on recruitment. Evidence of the predicted impact is vital and I urge you to contribute to the consultation (bit.ly/Nurseconsult). The future of the nursing profession is in all of our hands.