Internationally educated nursing staff make vital contributions to the UK’s health and care services every day, but government proposals to overhaul the Indefinite Leave to Remain system fail to recognise the value these staff bring.
Many migrant nursing staff could leave the UK because of these proposals and others may decide not to come here for work. This will deepen the nursing workforce crisis, threaten patient care, and set back the government’s flagship NHS reforms.
After sustained pressure from the RCN and other health organisations, the Home Office announced in November 2025 that nurses in the NHS would be effectively exempt from the changes.
However, it remains unclear what this means for nurses working in the independent sector and social care settings. We are also concerned about the impact on nursing support workers.
If you’re affected personally or not, write to your MP and demand the government scrap the proposed changes. Help put pressure on the government.
