An investigation has found that overseas staff play a critical role in the performance and maintenance of the National Health Service (NHS), challenging the narrative of certain policymakers who argue for limiting the role of international employees. This report highlights the integral role of foreign employees in supporting the NHS amid spiralling demand and a surge in retirements, as well as countering claims that they might be replaceable.
The inquiry led by The Health Foundation, an independent charity committed to improving the nation’s health and care, performed an in-depth analysis of the personnel of the NHS from 1997 to 2019. It discovered that the NHS workforce has become increasingly international over the years, with the share of international staff rising from 11.7% to 13.7%.
Furthermore, in 2019, the research noted a significant shift. For the first time, personnel from Asia outnumbered those from the European Economic Area (EEA) in the NHS workforce. Employees from Asia make up 6.2% of the NHS’s total staff, up from 3.9% in 2012, while EEA workers make up about 5.5%.
Despite the influx of international staff, the NHS has struggled with substantial personnel shortages. The recruitment and retention issues, coupled with increased patient demands and an ageing population, have intensified the NHS’s dependence on foreign personnel. It is estimated that the national health service requires an additional 200,000 staff to alleviate the current strain.
The report emphasises that international staff not only fill significant shortages, but also bring in much-needed skills and diversity. High-level expertise in critical areas such as geriatric medicine, anaesthetics and histopathology often come from overseas professionals, adding vital skills and experience to the workforce.
Currently, over 70% of senior health professionals and nearly 50% of junior doctors in the UK are international graduates. Furthermore, overseas workers represent approximately 23% of nurses, 28% of midwives and 45% of health professionals in short supply, such as radiographers and physiotherapists.
The Health Foundation has cautioned that the reliance on overseas staff could constitute a risk if policy changes limit the ability to recruit from abroad. Post-Brexit immigration rules have introduced a points-based system that could deter overseas health workers from settling in the UK.
Anita Charlesworth, Director of Research and REAL Centre at The Health Foundation, underscored the vital role of international healthcare workers.
“Our research shows just how much the NHS has relied on overseas workers to care for patients and keep services running,” Charlesworth said. “We owe these members of staff a huge debt of gratitude.”
Yet, Charlesworth also points to the increased pressures on the system that cannot be rectified only by recruiting overseas staff.
She explained, “While overseas nurses are helping to plug immediate gaps, the NHS can’t rely on overseas staff alone to solve its workforce crisis. Our analysis shows staff shortages will grow to unsustainable levels without a significant increase in investment for domestic training and education.”
Besides, in an age of global mobility, these skilled workers can migrate to another country with more attractive job prospects, rendering the UK healthcare system vulnerable.
The inquiry, therefore, urges enhanced investment in domestic training and professional development alongside maintaining the vital pipeline of overseas workers. It argues that a well-resourced, sufficiently staffed, and diverse NHS is vital to ensuring the health needs of the UK population. An integrated approach of overseas recruitment, domestic investment and training will be pivotal for the longevity and quality of the NHS in the longer term.
This report paints a vivid picture of an NHS that is profoundly indebted to its international workforce. As the UK navigates a new post-Brexit era, the way it treats its overseas healthcare workers could shape the future health of the nation itself.
Original Source: https://www.personneltoday.com/hr/overseas-staff-nhs/
