RCN: EU nurses must be encouraged to stay in UK

The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) is urging the government to provide greater assurances to EU nursing staff that they will be able to stay in the UK after Brexit.

In response to the recent Home Affairs Select Committee report on Brexit and immigration, the RCN has underlined the importance of making sure the tens of thousands of EU nurses and carers working across the UK have the right to stay regardless of the circumstances of Britain's EU exit, due to the NHS and social care system's dependence upon these workers.

In the report, it was noted that simply extending the current immigration system will not address this problem, as prioritising visas based on salary levels does not sufficiently account for the benefits international nurses provide to Britain's society and economy.

As such, the royal college has recommended that the government takes steps to consult on future immigration arrangements while the Migration Advisory Committee assesses the impact on public services.

RCN chief executive Janet Davies said: "The number of nurses coming from EU countries has plummeted in the last 18 months and, rather than redoubling her efforts to attract more, Theresa May told them they have even fewer rights if they arrive during the transition period."

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