As of September 30, 2024, the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) reported a record high of 841,367 registered nurses and midwives in the UK, reflecting a 22% increase since March 2017.

Despite this growth, recruitment rates are declining, raising concerns about the future capabilities of care services.

Experts warn that the nursing workforce is becoming increasingly inexperienced, with significant shortages and a heavy reliance on overseas candidates.

Kuljit Dhillon from the NMC acknowledged the importance of international recruitment for workforce growth, but noted a troubling decline in this area.

International recruitment has slowed, with a 16.6% decrease in internationally educated joiners in the last six months, while departures have risen by 33%.

New regulations implemented in December 2023 have contributed to a 65% drop in healthcare visa applications compared to the previous year.

Experts are advocating for student loan forgiveness schemes to enhance domestic recruitment, as the current rate of new UK nursing graduates is insufficient to meet demand.

The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) has warned that without addressing recruitment and retention issues, planned government health reforms will likely fail.

Professor Nicola Ranger from the RCN highlighted a troubling trend of nurses leaving the profession within five years of starting, alongside a decrease in new recruits.

Overall, there is a pressing need for strategic reforms to ensure a sustainable and skilled nursing workforce in the UK.

A Department of Health spokesperson acknowledged the burnout among nurses and emphasized the government's commitment to providing above-inflation pay rises to NHS staff.

Dr. Billy Palmer from the Nuffield Trust pointed out that chronic shortages and an increasing proportion of inexperienced staff within the nursing workforce may affect care quality.