A
new boost to help refugees with healthcare skills bring their expertise to the
NHS was announced by health minister John Hutton today.
He
announced £500,000 extra funding for the Refugee Health Professional Steering
Group, which was set up in 2001 to support refugees with health professional
skills.
Hutton
was speaking at the launch of new research by the Employability Forum on how to
get refugee nurses into employment.
Since
2001, the Department of Health has already provided £1.5m funding, which has
gone to more than 30 projects providing training and support for refugee health
professionals. The extra 500,000 will fund the group for 2004/05.
Hutton
said refugee nurses and doctors have a great deal to offer the NHS. “Being able
to access the right training and support is crucially important for refugee
health professionals, so that everyone can benefit from their skills,” he said.
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It
is estimated that 25 per cent of nurses currently employed by the NHS will
retire in the next five years.
