The National Health Service has been accused of behaving unethically by recruiting nurses from countries that are experiencing shortages in nursing staff.

The NHS has faced criticism for its “unethical” actions as it has been hiring a large number of nurses and midwives from nations experiencing severe shortages in healthcare workers.

Hospitals and the Royal College of Nursing expressed concerns that bringing in workers from countries on the “red list” could potentially harm their healthcare systems and violate government regulations.

Prof Nicola Ranger, the RCN’s chief nurse, said: “The government’s over-reliance on unethical international recruitment from red-list countries has become the norm and cannot continue. It’s a false economy. The government should invest in nursing staff in the UK, funding nurse education and fair pay – not destabilising other healthcare systems.”

Ranger spoke out after Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) figures showed that almost as many overseas trained nurses and midwives (15,036) joined its register between April and September as did those who were educated in the UK (15,067).

According to Miriam Deakin, director of policy and strategy at NHS Providers, the increase in healthcare workers from red-list countries joining the UK is worrying even though they are highly valued. She emphasized the importance of ethical practices in international recruitment, following the code of conduct set by the Department of Health and Social Care.

The NMC’s most recent report on its register’s composition reveals an increasing influx of nurses and midwives from red-list countries, despite government regulations explicitly prohibiting recruitment from these nations.

The regulatory body reported a notable increase in the percentage of new members from Ghana and Zambia. There continues to be a consistently large number of new members from Nigeria.

Andrea Sutcliffe, the CEO of the NMC, is urging NHS organizations to refrain from recruiting individuals from red-list countries. She stressed the significance of employers adhering to the government’s ethical recruitment guidelines, as there has been an influx of new hires from these designated countries.

Many individuals from various countries desire to work in the UK. Nevertheless, employers should not harm the healthcare systems in nations facing significant workforce difficulties by actively recruiting workers.

The number of nurses and midwives migrating from India has significantly increased. From April to September, 7,223 individuals from India registered with the NMC, a 49% increase compared to last year’s 4,849. This solidifies India’s position as the top country for international recruitment into the UK.

According to Danny Mortimer, the CEO of NHS Employers, nurses from other countries play a crucial role in providing social care and healthcare in the UK. This reliance on their services is expected to continue for the foreseeable future.

The NHS long-term workforce plan was launched by the government and NHS England in June. This initiative aims to significantly increase the number of domestic doctors, nurses, midwives, and other healthcare professionals over the next 15 years. The goal is to provide the necessary personnel for the health service and decrease reliance on foreign staff.

According to the NMC data, the council’s register currently has a record-high number of 808,488 nurses, midwives, and nursing assistants.

Source: theguardian.com