Under new immigration rules applicable from 6 April 2011, set to be introduced next year, up to 3365 nurses could be forced to leave the UK in 2017 immediately. The change means that people from outside the European Economic Area (EEA) must be earning £35,000 or more before they are allowed to stay in the UK after six years. By 2020, at current levels of international recruitment, the number of nurses affected could rise to over 6,000. If levels of international recruitment rise, the Royal College of Nursing estimates that this figure could hit over 29,000.

Given that there is currently a shortage of nurses, The Royal College of Nursing is urging the Home Secretary to add all nurses to the list of exempted professions (known as the shortage occupation list).

Sign the petition and show your support.

Find out more at : http://www.rcn.org.uk/newsevents/news/article/uk/rcn-report-shows-immigration-rules-will-cause-chaos-and-cost-the-nhs-millions