Migrants are keeping the NHS afloat not drowning it!

I suspect that the nurses arrived through legal channels rather than on boats.

Some are.
Many are not.

Germanshepherdsmum

I suspect that the nurses arrived through legal channels rather than on boats.

Unfortunately for the people arriving on boats, they don't have any "legal channels" open to them and can only claim asylum once they are on UK soil. I have no problem with sending anyone home if they are not genuine asylum seekers but we need a proper functioning immigration service to do that and basically ATM we don't have one. GSM you may understand the difference between the various categories of people who arrive here but many don't and their opinions are based on a combination of racism and biased media. If it is recognised that we need migrant workers, why has this government recently made it more difficult for people to come to work here and bring a spouse or children with them?

Yes, a great many nursing/ancillary staff from abroad when I was in for 3 weeks last year, but they must have come via legal channels.
Several Filipina* nurses, among others - I had conversations with one who’d only recently arrived - and a senior (male) Polish nurse, a ward manager, who told me he’d originally worked for several years in the U.K. as airline cabin crew, but had then returned to Poland to train as a nurse.
He’d been here for around 16 years altogether.

Then there was an HCA, originally from Jamaica, who told me he’d started off in the hospital washing floors.

I’d say that at least 80% of the doctors (I was seen by quite a few and observed more) were Brits, though.

*she was shocked at the cost of housing - unsurprising since we’re in outer SW London.
I would just add that our local hospital is one of the few rated ‘outstanding’ and after my own experience I’d certainly echo that.

We're short of medical staff because our own home-grown, home-trained staff are poached by other countries.

It's all like a merry-go-round.

I have worked in a Hospital for years, as a Health professional. I have been involved with employing overseas applicants to work with us.
As long as they have the correct qualifications which the NHS can enhance to match up UK qualifications, speak reasonably good English, tick all the working in the UK boxes they will be sponsored.

They want to be here we want them, I have always admire these staff as we educated them to UK standards (which is paid for by the NHS) , they do this with skill as English isn't necessarily their first language.
They often bring in their wife /husband /children. It's been a privilege to be working with these colleagues.
This is not cheap labour, they get paid the same as their UK counterparts.

I find it amazing, as Australians with the nursing qualifications to degree level were made to a) take an English examination at their own expense even though English is their first language and b) take a Masters degree (again at their own expense) before being allowed to work as a nurse, all the time working as a HCA to fund themselves.

Hear, hear! If this Tory government could focus on getting immigrants off the assessment backlog into jobs rather than trying to send some of them to Rwanda (which has its own asylum seekers coming to the UK) we they might solve some staff shortages. The Rwanda nonsense is all about frightening the voters.

I don’t agree.The Rwanda option is the only one on the table which may have a deterrent effect if it actually gets going.
Saying going after gangmasters isn’t working, yes they get the odd few here and there but more pop up to take their place.
Regards them working here, most destroy any papers that may identify them so other than cleaning jobs what else could they do? Not sure they should be in any workplace really, who knows who they are and if they have criminal backgrounds?
I wish there was a better option than Rwanda but don’t think there is.If it worked as a deterrent there would soon be no need to keep sending many there as not many would keep arriving here, then eventually none at all.
We will always need some legal migration, but that’s a different thing.The NHS in particular has needed legal migrant workers for donkeys years.

Callistemon21

I find it amazing, as Australians with the nursing qualifications to degree level were made to a) take an English examination at their own expense even though English is their first language and b) take a Masters degree (again at their own expense) before being allowed to work as a nurse, all the time working as a HCA to fund themselves.

I think that was ridiculous, wonder if it was all about making it a level playing field with workers from EU countries?

Visgir1

I have worked in a Hospital for years, as a Health professional. I have been involved with employing overseas applicants to work with us.
As long as they have the correct qualifications which the NHS can enhance to match up UK qualifications, speak reasonably good English, tick all the working in the UK boxes they will be sponsored.

They want to be here we want them, I have always admire these staff as we educated them to UK standards (which is paid for by the NHS) , they do this with skill as English isn't necessarily their first language.
They often bring in their wife /husband /children. It's been a privilege to be working with these colleagues.
This is not cheap labour, they get paid the same as their UK counterparts.

I hope you didn't think I meant that they were cheap labour as in we pay them less. I meant it in terms of not having supported them through their childhood etc. I think it's sad that they have to leave their own country as they are a valuable asset and the UK is effectively robbing less well off countries of some of it's most talented people. What i am objecting strongly to is the desire that some people have to limit immigration without understanding what this country will lose if we do, particularly when it seems to be based on racism but clothed in other objections.

The NMC will only accept the Academic IELTS test and to apply to become a nurse in the UK, applicants must achieve a 7.0 IELTS score in the reading, listening and speaking sections, 6.5 in writing and 7.0 overall.

If you are an international applicant from English-speaking countries such as Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Canada and the USA, an Academic IELTS test is still required to successfully apply.

That post was for Oreo

If I am a native English speaker from Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Canada and the USA, do I need to take an IELTS test?

Even if you are an international native English speaker, you are still required to take the IELTS test.

So was it much easier say, if you were a nurse wanting to come here from Spain before Brexit I wonder? If so, that would be crazy.

I don't know.

Callistemon21

I don't know.

Now see here! What do you mean by coming onto a forum and not having all the answers?😂

So called "illegal immigration" is a small amount the 627K immigration figures in 2023. Less than 45K, a figure which includes children, are "boat people" yet there's this huge focus and millions of pounds being spent to try to send them to Rwanda. It is total madness.

350 boat people were supposed to have arrived yesterday.
I havent worked out the math properly, but if that was every day, that works out roughly at 110,000 per year.
Quite a sizeable number.

I dont know of anyone in real life, who disagrees with people from other countries coming here to do jobs that are needed to be done in the Uk?
As was all done quite happily, pre 1995?

Someone who comes here on a boat with no proof of their identity, let alone qualifications, is unlikely to be of use to the NHS.

Callistemon21

I find it amazing, as Australians with the nursing qualifications to degree level were made to a) take an English examination at their own expense even though English is their first language and b) take a Masters degree (again at their own expense) before being allowed to work as a nurse, all the time working as a HCA to fund themselves.

Having a degree educated nursing colleague, with good , diverse experience. she moved to Australia, and had to take a, 1 English language exam,
2 other exams NCLEX
3 OSCE objective structural clinical examination.
Working with other immigrant nurses, non have been required to obtain a Masters to practice. A Masters is only required for specialist qualification,ie prescribing, pain management, autonomous.
I cannot see why people expect immigrant Nurses to be able to practise in the UK without determining their professional capabilities. Patient safety is paramount,well I think so and I have worked with some I wouldn't let look after my cat,if I had one.

Oh thank God Fixie for a positive thread about immigrants, boat people, refugees whatever you want to say
Our hospital is manned by professionals from 53 different countries How do I know? there is a big poster up in reception thanking the staff from 53 different countries They all seem to get on, support each other as well as the patients
A lot are doing fun raising activities like marathons and fun runs as well as their long long days

I would swap a refugee for one of our home grown drug fuelled users or a child abuser or a killer any day

Yes there will be some not so wonderful people trying to come here but without a quicker way of establishing their status we will never know and we are in the meantime missing much needed doctors, dentists, nurses, carers and many many others

Assess them safely and quickly, get them working, and PAYING TAXES

I would have thought a degree from an Australian University plus years working in an ICU in a top Australian University Hospital would have allowed an immigrant, as you call them, to work in a higher capacity than an HCA.

As for the reference to wouldn't let look after my cat, if I had one, that is extremely rude.

I will say no more.

The cat comment is awful and poster should be ashamed but expected