- Up to 50,000 migrant nursing staff could leave the UK if ministers press ahead with plans.
- The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) warns that extending the qualifying period for Indefinite Leave to Remain will deepen the nursing workforce crisis.
- Migrant nursing staff fear being tied to their employers and facing uncertainty about their futures in the UK.
- Responding nurses express concerns over financial security, family life, and career prospects.
The Crisis in Nursing Workforce: A Stark Warning from the RCN
The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) has issued a dire warning to the UK government regarding its proposed Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) policies for migrant nursing staff. The new research from the RCN suggests that up to 50,000 of these vital healthcare professionals could be at risk of leaving the country if ministers proceed with plans to extend the qualifying period.
Extending the Qualifying Period: A Recipe for Disaster
The Home Secretary is set to unveil more details and launch a consultation on immigration measures, including an increase in the qualifying period from 5 years to 10. This proposed change has sent shockwaves through the nursing community, particularly those who came to the UK during the pandemic to bolster healthcare services.
Financial Security and Family Concerns
The RCN surveyed over 5,000 migrant nursing staff and found that a staggering 60% of those without ILR said extending the qualifying period would significantly impact their decision to remain in the UK. This could mean as many as 46,000 nurses potentially leaving the country, according to calculations based on current visa data.
Nurses from various backgrounds shared their concerns, highlighting the financial and personal implications of these proposed changes. “During COVID, we were needed and there were lots of incentives to bring us from around the world to help the NHS,” said a nurse from Nigeria. “These proposals reveal a profound ingratitude toward those who stepped up as heroes.” Another nurse from Egypt echoed this sentiment, stating that policy changes have created uncertainty and are leading many colleagues to reconsider their futures in the UK.
The Impact on International Education and NHS Staffing
The RCN’s research also revealed that extending the qualifying period could deter international nursing professionals from coming to the UK. Only 11% of respondents said they would have chosen to study or work here if the route to settlement had been 10 years longer. This concern is compounded by a simultaneous decline in domestic students choosing to study nursing, with applications down 22.4% since 2021.
A Call for Change from RCN
The Royal College of Nursing is urging the government to reverse its plans and offer settled status upon arrival, as seen in competitor nations like New Zealand and Canada. Professor Nicola Ranger, General Secretary and CEO at the RCN, emphasized that extending the qualifying period would not only be dangerous for patient care but also immoral.
“Many of those who will soon be applying for ILR came to the UK during the pandemic, at great personal sacrifice,” said Ranger. “This is no way to repay them and amounts to a betrayal.” The RCN also criticized the increasing use of anti-migrant rhetoric by politicians, which it believes contributes to a rise in racist incidents.
Financial Hardship and Access to State Support
The proposals will tie migrant nursing staff more closely to their employers, leaving them unable to easily move between jobs. This is particularly concerning given that without ILR status, these nurses face greater financial hardship than their UK-trained colleagues due to the “no recourse to public funds” (NRPF) condition.
One nurse from the Philippines shared a poignant example: “I have a colleague who cares for her autistic daughter but couldn’t access disability funds as they don’t have ILR status yet. Increasing this to 10 years means depriving them of additional support.” This testimony is echoed by many respondents, underscoring how these proposals make migrant nursing staff feel unwelcome in the UK.
Government Response and Future Implications
The UK government is expected to launch a consultation on extending the qualifying period for ILR later this week. The RCN remains steadfast in its call for more humane policies that recognize the contributions of international nursing professionals. If these trends continue, it could have serious implications for staffing within the NHS, especially in areas already facing shortages.
While the government is grappling with a declining domestic nursing workforce and increasing immigration challenges, extending the qualifying period to 10 years appears to be an ill-considered move that could undermine the very success of NHS reforms. The RCN’s warnings should be heeded to ensure the UK maintains its critical healthcare capacity in the face of future crises.
