A BRAVE student nurse has called on the Government to honour her cohort's sacrifices by waiving this academic year's tuition fees and treating them as equals to the nurses before them.

The nurse, who wished to remain anonymous, is among more than 250 people to sign the Hereford Times/Newsquest Media Group petition to cancel this year's £9,250 fee for student nurses, midwives and paramedics on the NHS frontline.

Thousands of students across the country stepped up to help on our hospital wards, making up for a national shortfall in staffing numbers.

Some students were on unpaid placements when the Covid-19 pandemic first began while others have since started paid shifts as contracted band four level nurses.

And despite stepping up to staff our hospitals, those graduating this year are expected to foot the annual £9,250 bill for tuition fees and without access to the student nurse bursary.

The student nurse said: "We were the first cohort whereby university fees were expected to be paid. Numbers of those applying to do nursing decreased but this did not stop us.

"Our cohort is clearly in the profession because we want to be, not because they offer a free university course. We have worked on placement intermittently for three years, often acting within numbers on wards whereby staffing was low. You never heard us complain, we helped because we care.

"Now we are helping within the coronavirus outbreak. All we are asking is that you take a moment to understand how signing this petition will help towards relieving some of the stress we have endured throughout our course.

"Not having debt at the end of our course like those nurses before us and those now applying should be a given, why should we be treated any different?”

Hundreds of Brits have thrown their weight behind the campaign which is backed by four leading unions representing the majority of nurses, midwives and allied healthcare students.

If you feel the Government should scrap this academic year's fees for healthcare students, sign the petition (posted by the Bradford Telegraph and Argus) here: bit.ly/2Lo6FCc

Meanwhile, the Hereford Times is also asking readers to dig deep for those on the frontline.

Newsquest Media Group, our publisher, has already helped raised £17,000 for NHS Charities Together and their urgent Covid-19 Appeal.

This drive does not fund the NHS, but goes to help those workers at the coal face of this crisis by covering their expenses, accommodation, travel and food as well as supporting them with equipment and any other necessary items.

Donations will be used for gifts for staff, food deliveries and refreshments, covering the cost of travel and accommodation and other items which enhance the wellbeing of NHS staff and volunteers.

Please give whatever you can, and let us give a collective, united message to our NHS workers of our huge appreciation for their efforts.

To donate, visit our campaign's GoFundMe page here: bit.ly/2QKcIEi