Falling EU nurse figures spark fresh concerns over Brexit

Area of Science:

• Healthcare policy
• Nursing workforce analysis
• Socioeconomic impacts of Brexit

Background:

• The United Kingdom's departure from the European Union (Brexit) has raised concerns regarding its impact on the national nursing workforce.
• EU nurses form a significant part of the UK's healthcare professionals, and potential changes in immigration policy could affect recruitment and retention.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the current effect of Brexit on the European Union (EU) nursing workforce within the United Kingdom (UK).
• To analyze trends in the number of EU nurses in post at UK National Health Service (NHS) trusts and their registration to practice.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of recent figures on EU nurse employment in specific NHS trusts.
• Examination of data on the registration of EU nurses with the UK's nursing regulatory bodies.

Main Results:

• Preliminary figures suggest a decrease in the number of EU nurses employed at certain NHS trusts.
• There is also an observed reduction in the number of new EU nurse registrations to work in the UK.

Conclusions:

• The findings indicate a potential negative impact of Brexit on the UK's nursing workforce, specifically concerning EU nationals.
• Continued monitoring is essential to understand the long-term implications for healthcare staffing levels and patient care.