Half of new nurses now come from abroad

Half of new nurses are coming from overseas, with two thirds now imported from India and Philippines, official figures show.

The Royal College of Nursing on Tuesday raised concerns about the reliance on overseas labour, calling for increased investment to boost numbers being trained in this country.

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 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 last 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, the figures show, with just 5,524 nurses who trained overseas joining the UK Nursing and Midwifery Register in 2018/19.

Overall, the figures show the total workforce of nurses, midwives and nursing associates rose by 26,403. But a total of 27,133 left - a 13 per cent rise in a year.

The reports said stress and pressure were key factors behind decisions to leave the profession.

‘Sharp rise’ in numbers leaving nursing

Andrea Sutcliffe, the chief executive and registrar at the NMC, said: “Our register is at the highest level ever. This is good news considering all the pressures of the last 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 wellbeing. But we can’t take them for granted.

“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 growth of the register.

Pat Cullen, the general secretary and chief executive of the Royal College of Nursing, said the “sharp rise” in the number of nurses leaving the profession should not be overlooked while new recruits were welcomed.

She said: “We again question how sustainable it is to recruit half of all new nurses from around the world. 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.”

Midwife shortage

Saffron Cordery, the 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 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, continuing a downward trend.

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.”

Sajid Javid, the Health and Social Care Secretary, said: "I am pleased to see the highest ever number of nurses, midwives and nursing associates on the register.

"I’m determined to continue growing the workforce to help us tackle the Covid backlog and reduce waiting lists, and we are on track to deliver 50,000 more nurses by 2024, with over 30,000 more working in the NHS since September 2019.

“We are committed to training the next generation of nurses and there is a strong pipeline of talent coming through with high numbers of applicants to nursing courses, with all eligible students benefitting from a training grant worth at least £5,000 a year.”