EU order means Britain must open NHS jobs to thousands from Eastern Europe

[Hitman]

Thousands of foreign nurses will be allowed to work in Britain without any safety checks – because EU rules demand that the tests are axed.

They will not need to sit rigorous competence exams before treating NHS patients. And they will no longer even be required to show they have looked after patients in the past three years.

Critics say the change will 'almost certainly' lead to lives being lost. The Nursing and Midwifery Council will stop administering the tests in the autumn after being told it could be sued by the European Commission for breaking EU law on 'freedom of movement' for workers from the Continent.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...#ixzz0tT5k1Mq2

If this is true then it's STUPID. Not having to do exams etc... pfft... people will die.

[alexxxxx]

If this is true then it's STUPID. Not having to do exams etc... pfft... people will die.

you've misunderstood. they'll have to be qualified to do the job in their own country - they just don't have to do the british exams.

[Moh]

Oh my word. They should have to take British exams since they're treating British patients and it's British people who pay for the NHS.

[alexxxxx]

Oh my word. They should have to take British exams since they're treating British patients and it's British people who pay for the NHS.

well all nursing exams around europe must meet european standards so it really shouldn't matter. it's the same for engineering degrees, british standards equal euro standards so therefore there is no need to take new ones wherever you move to.

[Moh]

well all nursing exams around europe must meet european standards so it really shouldn't matter. it's the same for engineering degrees, british standards equal euro standards so therefore there is no need to take new ones wherever you move to.

But just 270 completed the course, deterred by its cost and difficulty. Now the Nursing and Midwifery Council, which regulates nurses, has been forced to scrap both requirements because they are deemed to be 'discriminatory' towards workers from EU member states.

Does that not mean our exams are more difficult?

[alexxxxx]

Does that not mean our exams are more difficult?

i'd probably say it was more to do with cost than difficulty. we have a lack of nurses now anyway so we should be making sure that we have enough. The different NHS trusts still have a proper process of recruitment, so they can judge whether or not their language skills meet the requirements and that they are qualified. I highly doubt that mutual agreement over the acceptance of nurse's qualifications would be taken without any sort of harmonization of skills required.

[-:Undertaker:-]

I would not trust the European Union or Europe on this matter, afterall we had the German locum who could barely speak English which led to a death; http://www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/ar...dling-NHS.html - if people wish to come to this country to fill in needed-spaces then they are welcome, but let us do it on our own accord by our own British standards and not poor European standards.

[Hitman]

I would not trust the European Union or Europe on this matter, afterall we had the German locum who could barely speak English which led to a death; http://www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/ar...dling-NHS.html - if people wish to come to this country to fill in needed-spaces then they are welcome, but let us do it on our own accord by our own British standards and not poor European standards.

This is what I was thinking about... would these people have to speak English? I assume they wouldn't because they aren't doing the British tests, they're on their own tests...

[alexxxxx]

I would not trust the European Union or Europe on this matter, afterall we had the German locum who could barely speak English which led to a death; http://www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/ar...dling-NHS.html - if people wish to come to this country to fill in needed-spaces then they are welcome, but let us do it on our own accord by our own British standards and not poor European standards.

it was recognised that his fatigue was the problem, not his supposed lack of english proficiency, even though i do believe that it is not unreasonable to ask for proof of english proficiency for a job.

and yes youd have to speak english to a high degree to be able to pass the interview.

[Moh]

There isn't even enough jobs for the demand in nursing as it is lol.