Drive for more nurses under threat

Plans for a dramatic increase in NHS nurses could be under threat because of low pay, long hours and racism against overseas staff recruited because of a shortage of hometrained staff.

Health Secretary Alan Milburn has promised to boost NHS nursing numbers by 35,000 following the Budget announcement last week that an extra £40 billion will be invested in the health service over the next five years. Most will come from overseas.

The army of foreign nurses in London hospitals is believed to have reached record proportions. Research by the Evening Standard has revealed that around 3,500 nurses have been lured from overseas to plug gaps created by a severe shortage of staff in the capital. Almost one in 10 nurses is from overseas.

However, nurses' leaders will warn today that exploitation of some overseas nurses in the NHS and a growing worldwide shortage of qualified staff could mean fewer will be willing to work in the UK in the future.

A survey of the experiences of overseas nurses, published by the Royal College of Nursing today, is likely to fuel fears that the NHS faces an exodus of international staff.

The research, to be published on the first day of the RCN's annual congress in Harrogate, will show how some unscrupulous agencies used by the NHS and the private sector make false promises of lucrative jobs - while in reality many overseas nurses end up working long hours and are sometimes paid less than the minimum wage.

The report is also expected to criticise "unnecessary and discriminatory" HIV and hepatitis testing, which have prompted allegations of racism. Beverly Malone, RCN general secretary, said: "Many times nurses from overseas are given false expectations. It probably means they are ready to leave as soon as they possibly can, while the whole issue has been about getting them here and keeping them here. Word will go back overseas that this is not a good deal for nurses."

The RCN also says there is evidence that nurses on adaptation courses - and not yet entered on the UK register - have been threatened with deportation if they complain that they are being paid less than the minimum wage. It will today call for better pay and condition for overseas nurses.

There are real fears that with an increasing worldwide shortage, nurses will look to the countries which pay most - notably the US.

Dr Malone said NHS nurses needed to be put on at least an equal footing with police officers and other public servants who earn more than healthcare professionals. Almost 60 per cent of NHS nurses earn less than £21,000.

At some London hospitals more than 30 per cent of posts are filled by overseas nurses. Yet more than 13 per cent of nursing posts across London are not filled.

The latest figures from the London region of the NHS Executive show a shortfall of more than 5,400 nurses to fill the total of 39,757 posts in hospitals.

At University College London Hospitals Trust - responsible for six central London hospitals - and at North Middlesex Hospital, almost a quarter of posts were empty at the end of January. At Bart's and the London, 22 per cent are not filled with permanent staff despite the recruitment of 245 overseas nurses.

Research there showed that the average length of stay of overseas nurses was only 18 months.