HEALTH workers will take to the streets in defence of NHS bursaries today as new figures reveal how two-thirds of nurses would not have gone into the profession without them.

A survey by the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) has lead to further worries that Chancellor George Osborne’s plans to cut the under-£5,000 personal stipend would lead to even greater NHS staff losses.

The news comes on the day thousands are expected to march on Westminster against the proposed cut under the banner Bursary or Bust.