I know that this is a very worrying time for anyone who has joined the UK from overseas, including nursing professionals. Recent hostility we’ve witnessed against migrants and anti-immigration rhetoric makes it more important than ever to support and celebrate our diverse membership – one that is reflective of a nursing profession made up of people from many different nationalities and backgrounds. This diversity is our strength and a huge source of pride.
I’m an internationally educated nurse, and I work with brilliant, dedicated colleagues from around the world every single day. We are a vital part of delivering health care in this country, and without us, many services would cease to function. It’s as simple as that. I, and my family, have experienced instances of aggression, hostility and racism in recent weeks. It leaves a mark – changes in the routes we walk home late at night; fear we feel when we’re using public transport; or conversations we feel unable to have with colleagues or friends.
I had a choice of where I decided to work. The NHS trust that became my first UK employer came to India and recruited me – to fill the gaps in the UK nursing workforce because of years of underinvestment and poor workforce planning. I equally could have chosen to work in a different country – Canada or Australia for example – but I came to the UK and from day one, contributed to the economy through taxation, and to society. Migrants of working age who come to the UK are net contributors to the economy – costing the government nothing in terms of education, health, social care or welfare.
Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) is important for so many internationally educated nurses as it gives long-term stability and means that you can change employers without requiring visa sponsorship. It also means that you can access public funds in times of emergency – something that taxpayers born in the UK are able to access, but migrant nursing staff, taxpayers who were born elsewhere, cannot access.
In May, the Westminster government’s immigration white paper proposed increasing the standard qualifying period for ILR from 5 to 10 years. The government has suggested that “high-skilled, high contributing individuals” such as nurses could be fast-tracked for settlement. However, it is unclear what this will mean in practice, and I know this is creating uncertainty for many RCN members. We held a webinar in August, which covered the proposed changes to immigration rules that you can watch here.
This week we have responded to Reform UK’s proposals for the abolition of ILR. The idea to retrospectively remove people’s rights in this way would be unprecedented, leaving migrant nursing staff unable to work or access welfare, despite having paid tax. It also demonstrates a misunderstanding of the fundamental role our amazing migrant nursing staff play in health care. Migrant nursing staff in our health and care system have a right to be here and policies like this threaten this right for many.
Almost a quarter of the nurses on the NMC register are internationally trained. The NHS and care system has always needed staff from across the world to come to the UK to care for our patients - and as a country, we should be celebrating and valuing that.
We already know that the UK is losing internationally recruited nursing staff due to low pay and restrictive immigration policies. Our survey last year showed that 46% of internationally educated nursing have experienced racism in the UK including in their workplace. And, as well as having to endure racism when doing our jobs, now we are being increasingly presented as a problem by politicians and told we are not welcome. That is dangerous and this rhetoric must end - our contribution should be a highly valued, not demonised. Political parties need to challenge the language of hate – not join this race to the bottom.
We need an immigration system that works for care staff, nurses and the people who rely on us. And the RCN wants to do even more to support internationally educated nurses who choose to join the nursing profession in the UK - we are focused on this support beginning before they arrive here. We will continue to challenge all proposals that will make the UK a worse place to live and work for internationally educated nursing staff. This includes continued engagement with politicians on the UK government’s proposals that will impact migrant nursing staff – most recently, our work was referenced by Westminster MPs debating ILR in Parliament this month. We will be responding to the government’s full consultation on ILR later due in the coming weeks and will keep members updated.
In October we will be celebrating Black History Month - an opportunity to learn about the historic contributions Black nursing staff have made to the profession and share those proudly. This year’s theme explores the role of Black activism and resistance within the health care profession – the push for greater equity and inclusion for Black nursing staff and to correct the historic erasure of the contributions they have made to the art and science of nursing. Please join us for our range of events celebrating the contribution of the Black nursing workforce that are available to all members and free to attend.
This year marks our sixth Nursing Support Workers’ Day. On 23 November we will be celebrating the important contribution nursing support workers make to patient care and health and social care services, something I see every day. Please take this opportunity to celebrate your colleagues - there are a wealth of resources available on our website to help you prepare and to mark the day and raise awareness at work and in your community.
I’d also like to draw your attention to a series of online workshops we are running for Learning Disability Nursing staff. We’ve launched a UK-wide review of learning disabilities nursing and would love you to join one of the sessions to understand more about the review and share your insights, experiences and views on what could be improved. We want to hear from you, the experts, so if you can’t make it, you can still contribute your views by taking our survey.
These are challenging times for nursing professionals. But wherever you started your nursing career, and wherever you want to go on your nursing journey, the RCN is here to support you.
I’m an internationally educated nurse, and I work with brilliant, dedicated colleagues from around the world every single day. We are a vital part of delivering health care in this country, and without us, many services would cease to function. It’s as simple as that. I, and my family, have experienced instances of aggression, hostility and racism in recent weeks. It leaves a mark – changes in the routes we walk home late at night; fear we feel when we’re using public transport; or conversations we feel unable to have with colleagues or friends.
I had a choice of where I decided to work. The NHS trust that became my first UK employer came to India and recruited me – to fill the gaps in the UK nursing workforce because of years of underinvestment and poor workforce planning. I equally could have chosen to work in a different country – Canada or Australia for example – but I came to the UK and from day one, contributed to the economy through taxation, and to society. Migrants of working age who come to the UK are net contributors to the economy – costing the government nothing in terms of education, health, social care or welfare.
Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) is important for so many internationally educated nurses as it gives long-term stability and means that you can change employers without requiring visa sponsorship. It also means that you can access public funds in times of emergency – something that taxpayers born in the UK are able to access, but migrant nursing staff, taxpayers who were born elsewhere, cannot access.
In May, the Westminster government’s immigration white paper proposed increasing the standard qualifying period for ILR from 5 to 10 years. The government has suggested that “high-skilled, high contributing individuals” such as nurses could be fast-tracked for settlement. However, it is unclear what this will mean in practice, and I know this is creating uncertainty for many RCN members. We held a webinar in August, which covered the proposed changes to immigration rules that you can watch here.
This week we have responded to Reform UK’s proposals for the abolition of ILR. The idea to retrospectively remove people’s rights in this way would be unprecedented, leaving migrant nursing staff unable to work or access welfare, despite having paid tax. It also demonstrates a misunderstanding of the fundamental role our amazing migrant nursing staff play in health care. Migrant nursing staff in our health and care system have a right to be here and policies like this threaten this right for many.
Almost a quarter of the nurses on the NMC register are internationally trained. The NHS and care system has always needed staff from across the world to come to the UK to care for our patients - and as a country, we should be celebrating and valuing that.
We already know that the UK is losing internationally recruited nursing staff due to low pay and restrictive immigration policies. Our survey last year showed that 46% of internationally educated nursing have experienced racism in the UK including in their workplace. And, as well as having to endure racism when doing our jobs, now we are being increasingly presented as a problem by politicians and told we are not welcome. That is dangerous and this rhetoric must end - our contribution should be a highly valued, not demonised. Political parties need to challenge the language of hate – not join this race to the bottom.
We need an immigration system that works for care staff, nurses and the people who rely on us. And the RCN wants to do even more to support internationally educated nurses who choose to join the nursing profession in the UK - we are focused on this support beginning before they arrive here. We will continue to challenge all proposals that will make the UK a worse place to live and work for internationally educated nursing staff. This includes continued engagement with politicians on the UK government’s proposals that will impact migrant nursing staff – most recently, our work was referenced by Westminster MPs debating ILR in Parliament this month. We will be responding to the government’s full consultation on ILR later due in the coming weeks and will keep members updated.
In October we will be celebrating Black History Month - an opportunity to learn about the historic contributions Black nursing staff have made to the profession and share those proudly. This year’s theme explores the role of Black activism and resistance within the health care profession – the push for greater equity and inclusion for Black nursing staff and to correct the historic erasure of the contributions they have made to the art and science of nursing. Please join us for our range of events celebrating the contribution of the Black nursing workforce that are available to all members and free to attend.
This year marks our sixth Nursing Support Workers’ Day. On 23 November we will be celebrating the important contribution nursing support workers make to patient care and health and social care services, something I see every day. Please take this opportunity to celebrate your colleagues - there are a wealth of resources available on our website to help you prepare and to mark the day and raise awareness at work and in your community.
I’d also like to draw your attention to a series of online workshops we are running for Learning Disability Nursing staff. We’ve launched a UK-wide review of learning disabilities nursing and would love you to join one of the sessions to understand more about the review and share your insights, experiences and views on what could be improved. We want to hear from you, the experts, so if you can’t make it, you can still contribute your views by taking our survey.
These are challenging times for nursing professionals. But wherever you started your nursing career, and wherever you want to go on your nursing journey, the RCN is here to support you.
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