Latest recruitment data for nurses and midwives should sound alarm bells

Commenting on the Nursing and Midwifery Council’s annual registration data, Suzie Bailey, Director of Leadership and Organisational Development at The King’s Fund, said:

‘The dramatic fall in international nurse and midwife recruitment and retention should sound alarm bells for politicians, health and care leaders, and people who rely on health and care services. These findings show a substantial slowdown in internationally educated nurses and midwives coming to the UK to work, ahead of a further tightening of immigration policies coming into force. Behind these numbers are real people, nurses and midwives who keep the NHS running and care for patients every day, living with the realities of uncertainty, hostility and racism.

‘Our health and care system has relied on international recruitment for generations. Recent proposals to cut immigration, tighten visa rules, and even deport those living here legally risk deepening workforce shortages and putting patient safety at risk. These changes don’t just create workforce gaps; they can create fear and run the risk of talented and dedicated staff being made to feel unwelcome. That could lead to longer waits for patients as staff become increasingly overstretched and feel undervalued.

‘The government is absolutely within its rights to make the political choice of having a more self-sufficient domestic health and care workforce. But this ambition must be tempered with realism over how quickly domestic recruitment, and any productivity improvements from greater use of technology, can fill the gaps of slowing international recruitment. Although domestic recruitment is steady, stubborn vacancies remain across health and care and the NHS workforce.

‘We need an honest debate about immigration’s vital role in sustaining health and care, especially as the population ages and demand rises. The government and those contributing to the wider debate must confront the reality that restrictive immigration policies will have a significant impact on NHS staffing levels in the near term, and risk fuelling racism that could do significant damage to health and care services in the UK.

‘As the government develops its 10-year plan for workforce reform, it must ensure that workforce policy and immigration policy are aligned to support a sustainable and resilient health and care system that delivers better care for patients.'

Notes to editors

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