29.06.16
NMC to amend English skills test for overseas nurses
The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) is to amend the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) requirements for nurses and midwives coming on to the register from overseas and within the European Economic Area.
Under the previous system, applicants had to achieve the IELTS Academic Test Level 7 in reading, writing, speaking and listening in a single sitting. A Level 7 in all areas will still be required, but this can now be achieved over two sittings of the tests. Both tests must be within six months of each other and no single score must be below 6.5 in any of the areas across both tests.
The NMC’s CEO and registrar, Jackie Smith, said: “IELTS Level 7 provides us and the public with assurance that nurses and midwives applying to join the register from outside the UK meet the appropriate standard of English language required to work in the UK.”
Only yesterday, the chief nursing officer for England, Professor Jane Cummings, put out a message reassuring European Union staff in the NHS that their contributions are valued following last week’s vote for the UK to leave the EU.
In response to the announcement, Katherine Murphy, CEO of the Patients Association, said that if the NHS does employ nurses from other countries, it must ensure that they are fully qualified and competent to carry out their duties and that they are competent enough in English to effectively communicate with patients
“We hear from patients on our Helpline that there are real issues with nurses from other countries, including problems with communication and a lack of understanding of processes and procedures,” noted Murphy.
“We are concerned that poor English skills may lead to mistakes and misunderstandings between healthcare colleagues or when patients are trying to explain their problems.”
However, she added that it is essential the government increases the commissioned number of student nurses in order to ensure that hospitals are adequately staffed with competent nurses who can provide high-quality care.
“The NHS must invest resources in the training-up and recruiting of nurses from within the UK, rather than embarking upon the costly recruitment of foreign nurses, who are often just a short-term measure to fill a gap,” said Murphy.
In the last few weeks, leaders of key health unions, royal colleges and charities have signed an open letter urging the prime minister to halt plans to cancel bursaries for student nurses, midwives and other healthcare professionals.
The letter to David Cameron says that the proposals are being introduced without any risk assessment and, unlike student loans in other parts of higher education, are being introduced without transition arrangements.
The Royal College of Nurses (RCN) has also announced that it will be campaigning against the closure of the nursing, midwifery and allied health professions policy unit at the Department of Health following an emergency vote at its annual congress.
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