Up to 50,000 Nurses Consider Leaving UK Amid Immigration Changes

The UK’s National Health Service (NHS) faces a potential crisis as a survey indicates that up to 50,000 nurses may leave the country in response to new immigration proposals. The government’s plans aim to restrict migrant access to settled status, extending the qualifying period from five to ten years. This shift has sparked serious concern among the nursing community about the implications for patient care and health system stability.

Keir Starmer, leader of the Labour Party, has stated that the government intends to significantly reduce net migration. The proposals also include increasing skill requirements for foreign workers to a degree level and mandating higher English language proficiency across all visa categories, including for dependents. The timing of these changes appears to coincide with political pressures from the rising Reform UK party, led by Nigel Farage.

Nursing leaders, including Prof Nicola Ranger, General Secretary and Chief Executive of the Royal College of Nursing (RCN), have criticized the proposals as “immoral.” They argue that treating skilled migrants as “political footballs” jeopardizes not only the NHS workforce but also patient safety. The RCN warns that a mass exodus of nurses could derail government initiatives to reduce waiting times for treatment.

According to the RCN survey, which included over 5,000 migrant nursing staff, approximately 60% of respondents without indefinite leave to remain (ILR) expressed that the proposed immigration changes would likely affect their decision to stay in the UK. This sentiment reflects a broader anxiety within the international nursing community, with many considering leaving the UK permanently.

There are currently more than 200,000 internationally educated nurses in the UK, comprising about 25% of the total nursing workforce of 794,000. The government’s proposed changes threaten the stability of this vital sector, particularly at a time when the NHS is already grappling with unprecedented demand for care.

The survey findings indicate that 53% of migrant nurses are “extremely concerned” about their financial security, while 52% worry about the impact on their families. Concerns also extend to career implications, with 49% expressing unease about their professional futures. Alarmingly, only 11% of those surveyed indicated they would still consider migrating to the UK if the path to settlement required a decade of residency.

The RCN has further called for the government to reduce the application fees for ILR, which currently stand at £3,029 per person, a significant increase from £155 in 2003. These fees remain high despite the estimated processing cost of £523, raising questions about accessibility for migrant workers.

A spokesperson for the government acknowledged the contributions of overseas healthcare workers, emphasizing the need to manage net migration. They stated that under the new settlement model, individuals could potentially reduce their qualifying period based on their contributions to the UK economy and society. A public consultation on these proposals is expected to be launched shortly, inviting input from health and care professionals.

As the NHS braces for the implications of these immigration changes, the RCN and nursing leaders continue to advocate for a reconsideration of the proposals. They assert that the government must prioritize the well-being of both patients and healthcare workers, as the current trajectory threatens to exacerbate an already critical workforce situation in the UK health system.