NHS Faces Catastrophic Staff Shortages as Immigration Rules Threaten Nurse Exodus
The National Health Service is confronting what could become its most severe workforce crisis ever, with research indicating that up to 50,000 nurses might leave the UK due to proposed immigration changes. The Royal College of Nursing has warned that these plans risk deepening the NHS staffing emergency and compromising patient safety.
Government Proposals Spark Widespread Concern
The controversial measures, championed by Keir Starmer, would fundamentally alter the settlement pathway for migrants. Under the new system, individuals would need to wait up to 10 years to apply for indefinite leave to remain, doubling the current five-year requirement. Additional changes include raising skill requirements for foreign workers to degree level and implementing stricter English language standards for all visa categories, including dependents.
Political observers suggest these reforms represent an attempt to counter the growing influence of Nigel Farage's Reform UK party. A public consultation on the proposals is expected to launch shortly, according to government sources.
Nursing leaders have described the plans as "immoral" and accused politicians of using highly skilled migrants as "political footballs." They emphasise that a mass departure of nursing staff would severely threaten patient safety and undermine government efforts to reduce NHS waiting times.
Survey Reveals Deep Distress Among Nursing Staff
A comprehensive survey conducted by the Royal College of Nursing, obtained exclusively by the Guardian, reveals the profound anxiety these proposals have generated among international NHS and social care staff. The findings suggest nearly half of the affected nursing workforce could permanently leave the UK.
The scale of potential impact is staggering: approximately 25% of the UK's total nursing workforce of 794,000 consists of internationally educated staff, numbering more than 200,000. Government data shows that 76,876 nurses have obtained visas since 2021 and would currently qualify for settled status after five years. The proposal to extend this period to ten years places their futures in serious jeopardy.
The RCN survey, which gathered responses from over 5,000 migrant nursing staff, found that 60% of those without indefinite leave to remain said the changes made them "very likely" to reconsider their plans to stay in the UK. This translates to potentially more than 46,000 nurses departing permanently.
Union Leaders Issue Stark Warnings
Professor Nicola Ranger, General Secretary and Chief Executive of the Royal College of Nursing, delivered a forceful condemnation of the proposals. "These proposals are not just immoral, they would be dangerous for our patients," she stated. "No minister who has any interest in the success of our health and social care system would press ahead with extending the qualifying period for ILR."
Ranger called for the immediate abandonment of the plans, warning they would exacerbate the NHS workforce crisis, endanger patient safety, and derail efforts to reduce treatment waiting times. "At a time when the government is failing to grow the domestic nursing workforce, it risks pushing tens of thousands of highly skilled nurses out of the UK," she emphasised.
The proposals represent a particular betrayal for many nurses who arrived during the COVID-19 pandemic. "Many of those who will soon be applying for ILR came to the UK during the pandemic, at great personal sacrifice," Ranger noted. "This is no way to repay them and amounts to a betrayal."
The survey highlighted several areas of serious concern among migrant nurses: 53% reported being "extremely concerned" about their financial security, 52% about the impact on their families, and 49% about the effect on their careers.
Without indefinite leave to remain, migrant nursing staff face significant restrictions, including being tied to specific employers through their visas—a situation that Ranger said has led to exploitation within the social care system. They would also be unable to access state support such as child benefit and disability payments for ten years, despite contributing taxes throughout their employment.
The RCN is additionally urging the government to reduce application fees for indefinite leave to remain, which currently stand at £3,029 per person despite an estimated processing cost of just £523. This represents a dramatic increase from the £155 fee charged in 2003.
A government spokesperson responded: "We are grateful to our overseas frontline healthcare workers, who bring compassion, deliver high-quality care and strengthen our health service, but net migration must come down. As the Home Secretary has set out, under our proposed new settlement model, individuals will have the opportunity to reduce the qualifying period to settlement and citizenship based on contributions to the UK economy and society."
The spokesperson confirmed that a consultation would launch shortly and encouraged health and care workers to participate.
