The UK and the World of International Recruitment of Nurses

1
The UK and the World of International Recruitment
of Nurses

• Prof. James Buchan
• jbuchan_at_qmu.ac.uk

2
UK and international nurses

• Trends in inflow of nurses to UK
• Drivers for international recruitment
• Policy shifts
• The DH Code of practice
• Summary

3
New UK nurses from UK training sources 1990/1-
2005/6
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Nurses No. of new full nurse registrants from
European Economic Area (EEA), and other
countries 1993-2006
5
UK level of reliance on international nurses
1989-2006
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Main source countries

• India
• Philippines
• Australia
• South Africa
• Nigeria
• (EU- Ireland)

7
Workforce planning

• UK has some potential advantages -govt.
  policy/funding levers control access to nursing
  education -nurses mainly employed by one
  employer- NHS -main stakeholders- govt.
  professional regulators employers educators
  all involved in national level dialogue

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UK International recruitment Drivers

• Skills shortages (all UK- legacy of
  under-training in 1990s)
• Explicit, timed targets for NHS staffing growth
  (England)
• Bilateral agreements- e.g Philippines, India
• Co-ordinated active international recruitment
  activities- NHS England
• (push factors)

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UK International recruitment Facilitators

• English language
• Established links and routes, with migrant
  communities in place
• Post colonial ties- shared curriculum similar
  training content institutional links
• London- hub for migrants

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UK- International recruitment policy shifts-
2005/6

• Nurses increase in UK numbers- most categories
  removed from shortage list for work
  permits(2006)
• Nurses English language test pass mark is raised
  (Sept 2005)
• Doctors concern about unemployed overseas
  doctors emerges (2005)
• Doctors most non EU overseas doctors cannot
  complete training without a work permit (April
  2006)

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The Department of Health Code of Practice for
International recruitment (1999/2001/2004)

• Covers England NHS and NHS funded care NOT
  other 3 UK countries, private sector
• Lists developing countries from which no active
  recruitment of health professionals should be
  initiated (some countries- e.g. India opt out)
• Lists preferred recruitment agencies
• Does not prevent individual movement, or coming
  to NHS for education

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No of new non UK nurses registering in UK,
selected countries
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Summary

• UK has never been self sufficient- however
  defined
• Active international recruitment was a deliberate
  govt. policy- a quick fix to meet national
  staffing targets
• Recent policy switch away from int. rec. reflects
  rapid growth in staffing funded by exceptional
  levels of NHS funding, and concern that new UK
  educated nurses cannot find work
• Code has not been as ineffective as many
  commentators suggest

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References

• Buchan J, Jobanputra R, Gough P, Hutt R (2006)
  Internationally recruited nurses in London a
  survey of career paths and plans. Human Resources
  for Health, 414 Available at www.human-resou
  rces-health.com
• Buchan J, Sochalski J (2004) Nurse Migration
  Trends and Policy Options. Bulletin of the World
  Health Organisation 82 (8) 587-594