90pc fall in EU nurses coming to Britain

 The number of nurses coming to work in Britain from EU countries has fallen from 10,000 a year to just 1,000 since the Brexit vote, figures show.

NHS chiefs and nursing leaders last night called the statistics “alarming”.

Statistics from the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) showed an 89 per cent fall in the number of EU nurses coming to the UK in the year along with a 67 per cent rise in those leaving. The number of UK graduates leaving nursing was up nine per cent.

Jackie Smith, the NMC’S chief executive, said the NHS had “major challenges” recruiting and retaining staff. Saffron Cordery, of NHS Providers, said: “We need urgent steps to help ease intolerable workplace pressures.”