Between April and September 6,321 nurses and midwives from abroad joined the register of those licensed to practice in the UK, down from 12,534 a year earlier. ommy London/AlamyBetween April and September 6,321 nurses and midwives from abroad joined the register of those licensed to practice in the UK, down from 12,534 a year earlier. ommy London/AlamyRising racism blamed for collapse in number of foreign nurses coming to UKNumber of overseas nurses and midwives registered between April and September was half that of a year agoThe number of overseas nurses and midwives coming to the UK is collapsing, figures reveal, with rising racism and changes to immigration rules blamed for the fall. Between April and September, 6,321 nurses and midwives from abroad joined the register of those licensed to practice in the UK, compared with 12,534 who did so in the same period in 2024. At the same time, more international staff are leaving Britain, according to workforce data published by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC). Health organisations said the trends would make it harder for the already understaffed NHS to provide the care expected of it and that patients would face even longer waiting times for treatment. Suzie Bailey, an NHS workforce expert at the King’s Fund thinktank, said: “The dramatic fall in international nurse and midwife recruitment and retention should be sounding alarm bells for politicians, health and care leaders and people who rely on health and care services.”The shifts identified by the NMC mirror those among overseas-trained doctors.
