UK still hiring nurses despite new legislation

INQ7.net
Last updated 03:01pm (Mla time) 07/28/2006

Despite the recent announcement of the UK Home Office on the removal of nurses from the occupations shortage list, the need for nurses in the UK remains the same.

The Philippine Nurses Association of the UK would like to clarify the issue amidst maligning reports and misleading statements by other organizations.

The removal of nurses from the occupations shortage list is not equivalent to a complete ban on overseas nurses from seeking employment in the UK. By removing them from the occupations shortage list, the government did not intend to stop the hiring of overseas nurses completely. It was a move to limit and lessen the opportunity for overseas nurses seeking employment in the UK, to give locally-trained nurses a chance to find employment.

This unprecedented move does not prevent the NHS and the independent health sector from seeking employees from overseas, nurses in particular. As part of the new regulations, prospective employers are required to show proof that they have sought audience with the local population and tried their best to recruit locally before being allowed to recruit overseas. Only after this “local labor test” will the UK Home Office conditionally allow overseas nurses to be employed in the UK.

The government hopes that the demand for nurses will be filled by the thousands of locally-trained nursing graduates this year. Should the need not be filled, employers can turn into overseas employment to fill their ranks. The increasing need for nurses cannot be completely accomplished by the thousands of home-trained nurses as older nurses are likewise set to retire at the same time.

According to the President of the UK based Philippine Nurses Association Michael Duque, “The PNA UK is undoubtedly annoyed at the irresponsible manner in which this issue was handled. The hiring of overseas nurses in the UK has not stopped but slowed down. However, competition will be tougher as the thousands of locally–trained UK nurses will be competing for the same nursing position.”

In another recent development, PNA UK is carefully monitoring the effects of this legislative, immigration and occupational changes as an increasing number of Filipino nurses are now leaving the UK to seek employment elsewhere. The numbers have not reached an alarming rate, but they could if this trend continues.

Philippine Nurses Association of the UK
www.pnauk.org.uk
admin@pnauk.org.uk