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NHS Saved £14bn by Hiring Overseas Staff
16 Mar
Summary
- NHS England saved over £14 billion by hiring overseas healthcare professionals.
- Government's goal to cut international recruitment to 10% by 2035 is overambitious.
- UK has a moral duty to support countries losing their own health workers.

A recent report indicates that NHS England has saved over £14 billion by hiring healthcare professionals from overseas. This finding casts doubt on the government's stated aim to reduce international recruitment to approximately 10% by 2035, a goal deemed overambitious by MPs.
The inquiry highlighted that 36% of UK doctors and 24% of nurses and midwives were trained internationally. While visa grants have decreased, overseas staff remain crucial for the foreseeable future.
Concerns were raised that recruiting from countries with existing staff shortages could have detrimental effects. The World Health Organization projects a global shortage of 11 million health workers by 2030.
The report recommends a fairer system where international recruitment is balanced with investment in partner countries' health workforces. This approach aligns moral responsibility with national interest, moving from extraction to partnership.




