Since NMC introduced IELTs and OET tests, OVERSEAS’s trained nurses who has valuable experience in nursing had find it difficult to get onto the NMC register despite the high shortage of nursing personnel who are the front line staff in the care of our patients in the UK. NMC data showed a 0.2% (1,678 nurses) reduction in the number of nurses on its register from September 2016 to September 2017 despite people in the UK living longer. Analysis of labour forces survey (LFS) in April to June 2007 to 2017 showed that among the 3 top reasons why nurses leave the register is ‘Disillusionment with the quality of care provided’ (27% of respondents). 

NMC believed that nurses that go on the register should be competent in English language but disregard those that are educated in the UK who were assessed in English and passed their degree although NMC dictated that they comply with the UKVI rules regarding English Language requirements while UKVI accepted UK degree (BSc & MA/MSc) as a pre requisite to meeting English requirements without 2 years restriction, NMC UK did not accept it at all. If someone can pass through a UK University with most of them finishing with Second class honours and above, this should be enough criteria for proof of English language competency. 

NHS need these staff and many of them are working as Health Care Assistant Assistant and Senior Healthcare Assistants for more than 10year while their knowledge is useful for rendering quality nursing care to our dear patients and residents in the NHS and Nursing homes in the UK. 

No wonder our nurses are overstretched and stressed out incurring huge amount of loss to sickness of NHS staff due to pressure and potential impact on patients as speculated by Jeremy Hunt (2017) on ‘Falling number of nurses in the NHS paints a worrying picture’ but it takes 3 years for a student nurse to graduate when we have thousands of available potential nurses that can join our Healthcare system already working as healthcare assistants and support workers.