HCL responds to BBC Nursing Report

Dec. 23, 2014 - PRLog -- Yesterday the BBC[1], amongst many other British media outlets[2], reported that according to recent reports 5,778 nurses, mainly from Europe and the Philippines, have been employed during the last year.

The scarcity of UK nurses is well established. Three years ago in its 2011 report the RCN[3] forecast this and this trend was later supported by the Centre for Workforce Intelligence’s (CfWI[4]) report that predicted that there will be a deficit of almost 50,000 registered nurses within the NHS by 2016.

The fact that 73% (103) of Trusts have recruited from abroad, during 2013 to 2014, which is an increase of 38% from 2012 and 2013, is unsurprising. The Department of Health has already stated that foreign nurses make a “valuable contribution to NHS”.

Stephen Hockey, Managing Director of HCL Permanent states “HCL Workforce Solutions has been working closely with an increasing number of Trusts to facilitate the movement of high quality nurses from Europe and the Philippines.  Government cuts, lack of investment in training new nurses and significant numbers retiring or leaving the profession, have together contributed dramatically to the rising shortage of nurses.’

He continues ‘ The overseas solution is not a short term stop-gap, with many international nurses staying for years providing excellent service and adding value to the NHS.  The process can be very efficient with the right partner, who understands the sector and has as much experience in the field as we do. However this will only provide part of the solution. More efficient workforce management solutions and increased use of flexible staffing are also needed. Only then will the NHS have a chance of winning this battle.”

About HCL Workforce Solutions

HCL, headquartered in London, was formed in 2003 and is a leading provider of staffing solutions in the health and social care sectors. HCL supplies over 2,000 temporary and permanent doctors, nurses, allied health professionals, qualified social workers and administration & clerical staff to public and private sectors every week. We are an international company with offices in the UK and Australia and recruitment drives in Europe. For more information please visit our website at www.hclworkforce.com, view our Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/pages/HCLplc/100335826677596) or follow us on twitter @HCLworkforce.

[1]http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-30511192

[2]http://www.theguardian.com/society/2014/dec/17/nhs-nurse-shortage-health-service-overseas

[3]http://www.rcn.org.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0006/405483/LMR2011_FINAL.pdf

[4]HSJ (2013 Report): NHS to face chronic nurse shortage by 2016