Nurses from overseas make up half of all recruits to the health service
Medical leaders question reliance on labour from abroad amid rise in those quitting the profession
HALF of all new nurses are coming from overseas, with two thirds now brought in from India and the Philippines, official figures show.
The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) last night raised concerns about the reliance on overseas labour, calling for increased investment to boost the numbers being trained in Britain.
Senior nurses questioned the ethics of such heavy dependence on other countries, many of which face their own nursing shortages, while regulators warned of the risks of the NHS depending on workers who may not stay. The figures show that 23,408 of the 48,436 people who joined the nursing and midwifery workforce in the past year have come from abroad, with two in three overseas workers coming from India and the Philippines.
The number coming from abroad has risen more than six-fold since before the pandemic, with just 5,524 nurses who trained overseas joining the UK Nursing and Midwifery Register in 2018-19.
Overall, the data show that the total workforce of nurses, midwives and nursing associates rose by 26,403. But a total of 27,133 quit – a 13 per cent rise in a year. The reports said stress and pressure were key factors behind decisions to leave the profession.
Andrea Sutcliffe, chief executive and registrar at the Nursing and Midwifery Council, said: “Our register is at the highest level ever. This is good news considering all the pressures of the past two years but a closer look at our data reveals some warning signs.
“The total number of people leaving the register has risen after a steady and welcome fall over the previous four years. Another note of caution is that growth of the workforce has become more reliant on internationally trained professionals joining our register.
“These professionals make a welcome and vital contribution to our nation’s health and well-being. But we can’t take them for granted,” she said.
“Two years ago, we felt the pandemic’s impact on global travel; the number of international joiners to our register fell sharply. A future pandemic or other global disruption could see history repeat itself, but with an even bigger impact on the overall register growth.”
Pat Cullen, general secretary and chief executive of the RCN, said the “sharp rise” in nurses leaving the profession should not be overlooked while new recruits were welcomed.
“We again question how sustainable it is to recruit half of all new nurses from around the world,” she said.
“The UK’S health and care workforce is proudly diverse, but it must be done ethically and come at the same time as increased investment in education and domestic workers.
“In the interests of safe patient care, ministers across the UK must act decisively to retain today’s experienced nurses and inspire tomorrow’s.”
Saffron Cordery, deputy chief executive of NHS Providers, added: “It is concerning to see a rise in the number of nurses, midwives and nursing associates leaving the register, reversing the trend of recent years.
“Workforce shortages across the NHS, with more than 110,000 vacancies, are a huge risk to patient safety by impacting the quality of care that overstretched staff can provide – ‘too much pressure’ is the third most common reason cited by leavers.”
The Royal College of Midwives (RCM) said far more action was needed to plug shortages in maternity services.
Its analysis of the latest official NHS workforce statistics show that in the 12 months to February this year, England’s NHS midwifery workforce shrank by 458 midwives.
Gill Walton, the RCM chief executive, said: “We are already 2,000 midwives short in England, yet the number in the NHS continues to fall while demands on maternity services grow.
“Other UK countries are also facing pressures. This is not sustainable and is without doubt having an impact on the safety and quality of care for women, babies, and their families.”