Health Secretary Matt Hancock faces calls to cancel student debt for nurses helping to battle coronavirus.
More than 80 Labour MPs joined together asking the government to forgive student loans for nurses fast-tracked to the frontline.
Some 5,553 students from 35 universities had signed up for paid placements as of Friday, according to Health Education England figures.
These nurses have rearranged their studies in response to a call from Mr Hancock for them to join the NHS frontline a few months before they originally expected to end their studies and qualify.
But they will still be liable for £9,000 a year in tuition fees.
MPs, led by Luton North MP Sarah Owen, called on the government to “support these new nurses by cancelling the student debt they have incurred throughout their studies.”
Ms Owen, who sits on the Commons Health Committee, said: "We owe so much to all the doctors, nurses and other health workers who are risking their own health to keep our NHS going and look after our loved ones during this outbreak.
“No nurse should have had student debt forced on them - and never have a group of newly qualified nurses faced such a challenging time to join the frontline of the NHS.”
She added: "The public have been showing huge displays of gratitude for NHS workers over the last few weeks, and that’s why the government needs to back up the public’s gratitude and cancel the debt of these new nurses who have answered the call and began their careers early to help our country take on the coronavirus.
“I’ll continue working constructively with the government at this time of national crisis, but where the public expect workers to be supported, we will push the government to do more.”
