International Nurses contribution to the UK healthcare sector

​International recruitment of nurses in the UK began in the mid-20th century, particularly in the 1940s and 1950s. This was a period when the National Health Service was established and there was a shortage of nurses in the country. The NHS looked to former British colonies such as Jamaica and India to recruit nurses to work in UK hospitals.

In the 1960s, there was another wave of international recruitment of nurses, particularly from the Caribbean and the Philippines. These nurses were recruited to address ongoing nursing shortages and to support the expansion of the NHS.

Since then, international recruitment of nurses has continued, with nurses coming from a range of countries such as India, the Philippines, Nigeria, and more recently from EU countries. However, there have been concerns raised about the ethics of international recruitment of nurses and the potential impact on the healthcare systems of the countries they come from.

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Ethical Recruitment

The World Health Organization (WHO) has been actively engaged in promoting ethical recruitment of nurses and other health workers globally, including to the UK.

One of the key strategies employed by the WHO to address ethical recruitment of nurses to the UK and other high-income countries is the development of the WHO Global Code of Practice on the International Recruitment of Health Personnel. The Code provides guidelines for the ethical recruitment of health workers, including nurses, and aims to protect the rights of health workers, improve health systems in source countries, and ensure that health workers are recruited and employed in a fair and ethical manner.

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Contribution to the UK Healthcare Sector

International nurse recruitment has played a significant role in addressing the staffing shortages in the UK healthcare sector, particularly in nursing. The UK has been facing a shortage of nurses for several years due to various factors such as an aging population, an increase in demand for healthcare services, and insufficient investment in training and education.

International nurse recruitment has helped to fill this gap by bringing in skilled nurses from other countries. These nurses are often highly qualified and have extensive experience in their field. They provide valuable support to the UK healthcare sector and help to ensure that patients receive the care they need.

Moreover, international nurse recruitment has brought diversity to the UK healthcare workforce. Nurses from different countries bring with them different cultural backgrounds, language skills, and approaches to care. This diversity enriches the healthcare sector, promotes cultural competence and helps to improve patient outcomes.

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NursingjobsUK have helped many NHS hospitals with time bound and cost-effective recruitment projects. Established over 20 years ago we have a proven track record in recruiting international nurses and other healthcare professionals.

We are an awarded supplier for International Recruitment of Clinical healthcare Professionals for NHS Procurement in Partnership and Crown Commercial Service. This means we meet government requirements on good industry practice.

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Nursingjobs UK adheres to the Department of Health Code of Practice on the recruitment of nurses and midwives.

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Contact us today if you have an international recruitment project we can support you with.

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