NMC records dramatic drop in nurses and midwives from EU

The number of nurses and midwives coming to the UK from the EU to work has seen a dramatic drop as Britain prepares for Brexit.

In the year up to March, the Nursing and midwifery Council (NMC) has recorded a 87 per cent drop in new registrants from the European Union compared to the previous year, while the number of EU nationals leaving the register has increased by 29 per cent.

The UK-wide regulator called the figures “a major concern”.

Between April 2017 and March 2018, 805 EU nurses and midwives joined the register compared with 6,382 the year before, while 3,962 people left.

Although the number of new registrants from the UK and the rest of the world increased slightly, at the end of March 2018 there were 690,278 nurses and midwives on our register – 495 fewer than at the end of March 2017.

Jackie Smith, Chief Executive and Registrar of the Nursing and Midwifery Council said: “The number of people from the EU leaving our register remains a major concern, despite reassuring comments from senior members of government and nurse leaders. While the picture for UK trained nurses and midwives appears to be stabilising.

“We asked people why they were leaving and for the small number of EU nurses and midwives who responded it’s clear that Brexit is playing a part, while retirement and staffing levels are clear factors in the decision of UK nurses and midwives to leave the profession.”