Nurses from York have gone to Westminster to protest against plans to scrap bursary funding for students on nursing, midwifery and other health degrees.

Five student nurses and a midwifery student from the University of York went to Parliament to lobby MPs to challenge the plans to introduce tuition fees and scrap bursary funding, which they say will deter people from entering the professions and exacerbate an already serious staffing shortage.

Currently nurses and midwives do not have to pay tuition fees but after 2017, nursing and health degree students will face about £50,000 of student loan debt when they graduate compared with just under £7,000 with the current bursaries.

Campaigners have said the changes will deter people from taking the degrees, creating an even bigger staffing shortfall in the NHS.

Mary Allitt, a student nurse, said: "I am concerned about the future nurses and patients as there will be greater staff shortages. I'm passionate about the NHS and we wouldn't be doing the right thing if we didn't fight to keep it going.

"The new scheme is due to come into effect from September 2017 and will have an impact on student nurses, midwives, physiotherapists and occupational therapists and other allied health professionals. Students currently receive a £1000 annual bursary alongside a means-tested bursary and reduced student loan.

"Although this may sound like a lot, many students struggle to make ends meet whilst spending 50 per cent of our time at placement, working across the NHS from labour wards to hospices and everything in between. A large number of students undertake part-time work to meet costs of living. The proposed changes would mean newly-qualified healthcare professionals begin working life with over £50,000 debt (and this is before student overdrafts or commercial debt).

"It is believed that the student loans will be catastrophically off-putting for potential applicants of courses such as nursing. There is already a widely reported shortage of nurses and this is likely to increase by potential applicants finding the course financially impossible."

The team met with York MP Rachael Maskell and Thirsk and Malton MP Kevin Hollinrake.

They met shadow home secretary MP Andy Burnham in the corridors of Westminster and shadow health secretary MP Heidi Alexander.

Ms Allitt said they were encouraged by the support given to them by the politicians.