The National Health Service (NHS) in the United Kingdom is grappling with a staffing crisis as a growing number of foreign-born nurses are leaving for better-paying jobs and improved working conditions in other countries, News About Nigeria reports.
According to a recent report by the Health Foundation, the exodus of nurses from the UK has surged, with the number quadrupling since before the pandemic and doubling within just a single year.
The report noted that 12,400 UK-registered nurses moved abroad in 2022–23, compared to the previous year.
Many of the departing nurses, approximately 8,680, obtained their nursing qualifications outside the UK or EU, with countries like India and the Philippines having common origins.
The primary destinations for these nurses were identified as the United States, New Zealand, and Australia, where salaries can be nearly double those offered in the UK.
Data from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) showed the wage disparity, with UK nurses earning an average of $46,000 annually, significantly less than their counterparts in Australia ($71,000), New Zealand ($57,000), and the US ($84,900).
The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) attributed the growing exodus to the continual decline in nursing salaries since 2010.
Prof. Pat Cullen, the RCN’s chief executive, expressed deep concern over the trend, stating that the exodus has placed a strain on NHS services that are already grappling with a shortage of 40,000 nurses.
Cullen stated, “With patient needs already going unmet, the prospect of losing more of our international colleagues doesn’t bear thinking about.”
However, the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) disputed the figures presented by the Health Foundation, claiming that its own data showed fewer nurses leaving the NHS.
A DHSC spokesperson said the government is putting in efforts to support NHS nurses, including a negotiated pay rise, additional bonuses, and workforce expansion plans.
The DHSC spokesperson stated, “We hugely value the care provided by our fantastic nurses, which is why we negotiated a fair and reasonable deal with the trade unions.”
