There has been a huge rise in the number of overseas nurses
and midwives registering to work in the UK, according to nursing council UKCC.
Final figures for 2000 and 2001 show that more than 8,400
nurses and midwives trained in non-EU countries registered to work in Britain,
an increase of 41 per cent.
The largest number – 3,396 – came from the Philippines
compared to 1,052 for the previous year, making the country the largest
contributor of overseas registrants for the first time.
South Africa and Australia were the second and third highest
providers each sending around 1,000 practitioners to work in Britain.
Thirteen countries provided more than 30 nurses and midwives
for the first time.
Paul Hutchinson, UKCC director of business systems, said
that those recruiting overseas were casting their net much wider than ever
before but added that it was a two way process.
“It is not one-way
traffic and many UK-trained practitioners go abroad to work. The skills of
registered nurses and midwives are sought after throughout the world,” he said.
By Katie Hawkins
