22.06.15
Immigration rules could cause chaos and cost NHS millions
New immigration rules could see over 3,000 nurses deported, exacerbating the UK shortage and costing the NHS millions.
Under new government rules, from next April non-EEA workers who are earning less than £35,000 after six years in the UK will have to leave the country. The EEA – the European Economic Area – covers the 28 EU member states plus Iceland, Norway and Liechtenstein.
According to research from the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) the new rules will intensify the “severe shortage of nurses”.
Their figures show that up to 3,365 nurses currently working in the UK will potentially be affected. The RCN estimates that the cost to the NHS of recruiting these nurses was £20.19m. The RCN say this money will have been wasted if they are forced to leave the UK.
It adds that the cost could spiral by 2020, with the number of nurses affected and cost doubling if workforce pressures stay as they are. However if pressures force a higher rate of international recruitment, the number of nurses affected could rise to 29,755, costing over £178.5m to recruit.
Dr Peter Carter, chief executive and general secretary of the RCN, said: "The immigration rules for healthcare workers will cause chaos for the NHS and other care services. At a time when demand is increasing, the UK is perversely making it harder to employ staff from overseas. The NHS has spent millions hiring nurses from overseas in order to provide safe staffing levels. These rules will mean that money has just been thrown down the drain.
"The UK will be sending away nurses who have contributed to the health service for six years. Losing their skills and knowledge and then having to start the cycle again and recruit to replace them is completely illogical.”
The new immigration rules are part of home secretary Theresa May’s plan to “ensure only the brightest and best remain permanently”.
Dr Carter said that crackdown on agency spending is likely to result in an increase in international recruitment, despite the new rules, as there is a shortage of nurses and training places at home.
"The only way for the UK to regain control over its own health service workforce is by training more nurses,” he said. “37,000 potential nursing students were turned away last year so there are people out there who want to embark on a nursing career.”
A Home Office spokesman said: “As the prime minister has made clear, the government wants to reduce the demand for migrant labour.
“There are exemptions to this threshold for occupations where the UK has a shortage – but the independent Migration Advisory Committee recommended against adding nurses to the shortage occupation list after taking evidence from groups, including the RCN.
“Employers have had since 2011 to prepare for the possibility their non-EEA workers may not meet the required salary threshold to remain in the UK permanently.”
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