New immigration rules could “cause chaos for the NHS”, nursing union warns

The new rules are set to come into effect in April 2016, and will mean non-EU workers earning less than £35,000 after six years in the UK will be deported. The RCN have urged the Home Office to make nurses exempt from the new rules and reconsider the salary threshold.

Research released by the RCN suggests that up over 3000 nurses, who cost £20.19 million to recruit, could be effected by the new rules. They also suggest that the numbers could more than double by the end of the decade, which could result in nearly £40 million wasted in recruitment costs.

RCN’s chief executive and general secretary, Dr Peter Carter, said: “The immigration rules for health care workers will cause chaos for the NHS and other care services. At a time when demand is increasing, the UK is perversely making it harder to employ staff from overseas.

“The NHS has spent millions hiring nurses from overseas in order to provide safe staffing levels. These rules will mean that money has just been thrown down the drain.

“The UK will be sending away nurses who have contributed to the health service for six years. Losing their skills and knowledge and then having to start the cycle again and recruit to replace them is completely illogical.”

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This story was first published in digitalhealth.net

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