patient safety
The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC), the profession’s regulatory body, requires foreign-trained nurses to sit a language test before registering in the UK, unless they have worked or trained in a “majority English-speaking country”. Are.
It said a high standard of English was vital to “safe, compassionate and effective” patient care.
But some nurses said the exam setting was artificial and the pass mark was set too high. Others in countries where English is widely spoken questioned why they needed to take exams when their training was in English.
Deepa, 41, a nursing assistant at a hospital in southern England, said it didn’t make sense for the NHS to spend huge sums of money recruiting new nurses from overseas when it already has a large pool of experienced nurses which she is not using.
Deepa said, “They are shouting for nurses, but we are already here. It is very disheartening.” “My co-workers know I’m overqualified. They all want me to use my skills.”
But things may be about to be seen. Following a public consultation this year, the NMC has announced some changes which it is estimated will allow up to 3,000 more nursing and midwifery professionals to register annually.
The move comes amid a surge in the recruitment of foreign nurses to plug gaps in Britain’s health service. There are around 47,000 vacancies in England alone.
By March 2022, nearly half of the 48,436 nurses registered with the NMC had been trained overseas, up from nearly one in seven four years earlier. About two-thirds come from India and the Philippines, and thousands more from countries in Africa.
NMC accepts two international language tests – IELTS and OET – which score applicants on reading, writing, speaking and listening. Although the examinations are external, the NMC determines the passing grade.
From next year, it is introducing improvements to the resit process for those who fail.
In some circumstances, it will also accept testimony from an employer about an applicant’s language abilities if they have worked in the UK for at least one year in a health or social care role, and have either received their training in English Have you done well or have you narrowly escaped in the examination?
However, the NMC rejected the call during consultations to lower the pass mark, but said it would be kept under review.
NMC Director of Strategy Matthew McClelland said: “Of all health and care professionals, nurses and midwives spend the most time with patients … so it is essential that everyone joining our register has strong English language skills. Have skill.”