PLANS to toughen visa rules for nurses is “unjust” and “risks patient safety” in Northern Ireland, a health union has said.
The RCN’s Northern Ireland Director, Professor Rita Devlin, made the comments after warnings that an estimated nearly 50,000 migrant nursing staff may leave the UK.
The UK government is to launch a consultation this week that suggests migrant health workers could face a much longer wait to settle with ‘Indefinite leave to remain’ (ILR).
This allows migrants to live, work and study in the UK as long as they want and to apply for benefits if eligible. It can also be used to apply for British citizenship.
This is currently granted after five years for health workers, but could stretch to 10 years. Applying for ILR also costs each individual more than £3,000.
Professor Devlin said: “International nurses have come to Northern Ireland to support our health service and care for our patients.
“To treat them this way is unacceptable; they deserve certainty about their future and should not be denied access to state support while working in public services and paying taxes.
“Extending the qualifying period for ILR is not only unjust but it risks patient safety as we are reliant on our international colleagues to ensure services run smoothly.
“If the government continues to send the message that nursing staff are not welcome here, they should not be surprised when these skilled professionals choose to leave.”
Rita Devlin, Director of the Royal College of Nursing in Northern Ireland.
Research from the RCN also states that nearly 50,000 migrant nursing staff might leave the UK if ministers press ahead with the plans.
Surveying 5,000 migrant nursing staff, 60% who don’t have ILR said any decision to extend the qualifying period would “very likely” affect their decision to remain in the UK.
Mapped against the number of migrant nursing staff on entry clearance visas, they said as many as 46,000 migrant nursing staff could be at risk of leaving the UK.
The RCN add that the proposals have created “profound distress among migrant nursing staff,” with 53% extremely concerned about their financial security, 52% concerned about the impact on family life and another 49% worried about their career.
Professor Nicola Ranger, RCN General Secretary and Chief Executive, added: “These proposals are not just immoral; they would be dangerous for our patients. 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.
“If the government continues to show nursing staff they aren’t welcome here, they shouldn’t be surprised when they decide to leave. The proposed changes to the UK’s immigration system make their reforms to the NHS less likely to succeed and don’t serve the interest of our patients or nursing staff.”