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Relaxation in Language check instils hopes in Nursing fraternity

The past year marked a turbulence for the UK migrant population who were thwarted with the changes that are believed to completely metamorphose the immigration scene in the region. One of the important sector which is reported to feel the heat of the motion is Nursing and care. The industry, which has been backed by a team of nursing professionals sourced mainly from the overseas, is under constant scrutiny amidst all the immigration debacle.

Overseas nursing talent : a backbone to UK’s Healthcare

Nursing and care has always been one of the most critical sectors of the UK. As per the official number reported, one in 20 NHS workers in England comes from the EU, which amounts to 57,608 NHS workers and 5% of the total workforce. The UK’s healthcare system has always seen an active participation from the migrant population who majorly comes from Eastern Europe, Spain, Portugal and the Republic of Ireland.

Relaxation of language tests: a step for easy transition post Brexit

In a new relaxation as introduced by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC), the nurses would be now able to better tackle the language test as introduced as an obligatory step to retain their jobs in the UK. The rule, which was introduced to curb migration numbers, demanded that the nurses and midwives coming from outside the UK need to demonstrate their ability to communicate effectively with a high standard of English.

But the step, as taken by the NMC in the wake of Brexit certainties, would now provide a ray of hope to these nurses and midwives. Nurses and midwives who are coming from outside the UK will still have to achieve a “level 7” in the IELTS, but how they go about it is set to change. The applicant, previously, had to achieve this score in a single sitting to match the eligibility criteria to work in UK. The new rule however relaxes this requirement and now the applicant can achieve this level into two sittings, whilst the gap between these sittings should not be more than six months.

The step is seen as a progressive approach designed to ease pressure on the overburdened healthcare sector of the UK.

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