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The Royal College of Pharmacy (RCPharm) has criticised Labour after it emerged pharmacy students will not have full access to the NHS Learning Support Fund (LSF).

The Government’s announcement today that nursing, midwifery, allied health and dental therapy/hygiene students who have complete access to the LSF will receive advance payments for placement-related travel and accommodation costs in 2026-27 confirmed pharmacy students’ fears that they will not be entitled to the full payment facility.

At present, they can claim travel and accommodation expenses for clinical placements through the LSF but the announcement made no mention of allowing pharmacy students access to an annual training grant of £5,000 or £2,000 in parental support.

In May this year, the RCPharm, British Pharmaceutical Students’ Association and the Pharmacy Schools Council wrote to health minister Karin Smyth urging her to give pharmacy students “equal access to all elements” of the LSF. Smyth told parliament that month that Labour was keeping funding arrangements for trainee health professionals “under review”.

However, that review has not culminated in parity for pharmacy students with other healthcare professions. Mahendra Patel, chair of RCPharm’s English Pharmacy Advisory Council, said Labour's failure to give pharmacy full access to the LSF was “disappointing”.

“The NHS Long Term Workforce Plan recognised the need to grow the pharmacy workforce, and as pharmacists take on greater clinical and prescribing responsibilities, pharmacy students should have the same access to support as those training for other healthcare professions,” he said.

“Pharmacy students should not face unjust financial barriers at the very start of their careers. The Government should now build on the progress made so far and ensure pharmacy students have the support they need to train for the future NHS and deliver the care patients need.”

In its latest annoucement on the LSF, the Government said: “From the start of the 2026-27 academic year, eligible students with full access to the NHS Learning Support Fund will be able to receive advance payments for placement-related travel and accommodation costs.

"The change will mean students no longer have to cover expenses themselves before claiming the money back. Under the current system, students must book and pay for travel and accommodation upfront often amounting to hundreds of pounds, then submit claims before being reimbursed. The new system will give students greater control over their finances while they complete their training."