Exclusive:NHS Scotland vacancy crisis: Alarm at soaring number of nurses and midwives moving overseas

The number of nurses and midwives leaving NHS Scotland for jobs abroad has doubled in recent years

The number of nurses and midwives leaving Scotland’s crisis-hit NHS to work overseas has soared in recent years, new data has revealed.

Last year, 583 Scottish nurses and midwives sought approval from the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) to relocate abroad – a 62 per cent increase from the year before and double the rate of 2018/19.

Australia is by far the most popular destination to pursue new professional opportunities with 359 submissions last year, followed by New Zealand and the USA.

The findings come amid a workforce crisis in Scotland’s health service, which has placed incredible pressure on dedicated nurses.

Nurses and midwives who want to continue their careers in a different country have to seek a Certificate of Current Professional Status from the NMC, on which they declare their proposed destination country.

Other popular nations to relocate to for Scottish-based nurses and midwives in the past year include Ireland (39), Canada (26) and the United Arab Emirates (18).

Colin Poolman, director of the Royal College of Nursing Scotland said: “One of the joys of a career in nursing is the breadth of opportunities it opens up. There will always be some registered nurses from Scotland who chose to travel and apply their skills overseas, just as we welcome many overseas nurses to Scotland. However, the significant increase in the numbers requesting certificates of Current Professional Status from the NMC is worrying.

“Scotland doesn’t have the nursing staff it needs, with stubbornly high vacancy rates across our NHS and social care.

“The Ministerial Nursing and Midwifery Taskforce, secured as a direct result of the RCN’s campaigning on safe staffing and fair pay, is the Scottish Government’s opportunity to act, to invest in supporting existing nursing to stay and to attract and support the workforce of the future.”

Pamela Nash, chief executive of Scotland in Union, which unveiled the data through Freedom of Information requests, said: “It’s concerning that the working conditions for so many nurses and midwives working in Scotland’s NHS are so poor that they have decided that their future lies elsewhere.

“Our hospitals are already struggling to fill vacancies and replace retiring medical professionals. Now hundreds more are considering leaving to work elsewhere in the world.

“The crisis in our NHS is not inevitable and it cannot be blamed on Covid. This is the result of 16 years of mismanagement from the SNP and the decisions that its politicians have made.

“Perhaps if there had been more focus on supporting our public services instead of obsessing over breaking up Britain then our nurses would not be leaving in droves.

“The SNP/Green Government is in sole charge of the NHS, and has to take responsibility for this situation.

“It must set out how it plans to replace these valuable members of staff and tackle the workforce crisis that has put too much pressure on our amazing nurses, and how it intends to make Scotland’s NHS a more attractive place to work so fewer people see their future elsewhere.”

Scottish Conservative shadow health secretary Dr Sandesh Gulhane said the figures were “deeply concerning”. He said the exodus should be “an urgent wake-up call” for SNP health secretary Michael Matheson.

“Dire workforce planning by his predecessors, including Humza Yousaf, means our NHS has an estimated shortfall of around 6,000 nurses,” he said.

“Hospitals are operating under intolerable strain and this is taking a toll on both staff and patients. It is little wonder that so many nurses are looking to work overseas instead, given the SNP’s repeated failures to address their concerns.

“Michael Matheson must produce a credible plan to make nursing as attractive a profession as possible, or the exodus will continue and our NHS will be further overwhelmed.

“The SNP should follow the Scottish Conservative vision for a modern, efficient and local health service to help solve this crisis.”

Scottish Labour’s health spokesperson Jackie Baillie said: “Nurses in Scotland have been bounced from one crisis to another under the SNP, so it is little wonder so many are seeking opportunities abroad.

“Far too many nurses have been left exhausted and demoralised by the SNP’s failure and are leaving in droves – whether working abroad or leaving the profession entirely.

“Staffing shortages are one of the driving factors behind this NHS crisis and if this exodus continues, it will spell disaster.

“The SNP must deliver a real workforce plan and start showing nurses and other NHS staff the respect they deserve.”

A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “Our workforce in NHS Scotland is its most important and highly valued asset. Recognising this, we recently delivered an average 6.5 per cent increase in pay in 2023/24 for 160,000 NHS staff, including nurses, midwives, paramedics, allied health professionals, porters and others.

"This £568 million deal included a commitment to deliver the most progressive package of terms and conditions reform in decades and support for workforce recruitment, sustainability and retention. This means over two years nurses have received up to a 15.8 per cent pay rise – the best in the UK.

“We have established the Nursing and Midwifery Taskforce with a wide-ranging remit, led by the Cabinet secretary for NHS recovery, health and social care, to build on efforts to make Scotland the best place for nurses and midwives to come and work.

“To support the wellbeing of our workforce, we provide funding for a range of national wellbeing resources. This includes the National Wellbeing Hub, which provides a range of advice and support, a 24/7 compassionate listening service through the National Wellbeing Helpline, confidential mental health treatment through the Workforce Specialist Service, an online Coaching for Wellbeing service, and funding for additional local psychological support.”