Dip in number of foreign nurses coming to NHS should 'sound alarm bells'

A FALL in the number of foreign nurses coming to work in the NHS should ring "alarm bells" for patients and health leaders, experts have said.

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New figures from the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) show a sharp fall of internationally educated nurses and midwives joining its register, which allows them to work in the UK.

Commentators pointed out that the health and care system has relied on international recruitment "for generations" and warned that plans to tighten visa rules and cut immigration could "deepen" workforce shortages.

Meanwhile, the nursing regulator said black, Asian or minority ethnic nurses and midwives are being "held back" by experiences of racism.

NMC figures show that from April 1 to September 30, some 6,321 international workers joined the register for the first time - a 49.6% drop compared with the same period last year when 12,534 joined the register.

This means that only 31.1% of new joiners were from outside of the UK during this period - a figure which is usually around 50%, the NMC said.

Factors could include better earning potential in different countries, visa changes and a plan to increase domestic recruitment, the NMC said.

Paul Rees, NMC chief executive and registrar, said: "The high-growth era of international recruitment appears to be ending. At the same time, domestic recruitment is steady."