EU nurses welcome and valued in Wales, say ministers

EU nurses are still valued members of the NHS despite Brexit, say Welsh health ministers.

In a joint statement issued today, the ministers sought to reassure nurses and health and social care staff, that they still have a future in the NHS.

Reassured staff

Cabinet secretary for health, well-being and sport Vaughan Gething, and minister for social services and public health Rebecca Evans, acknowledged the unsettling effect of the recent European Union referendum result.

Ms Evans reassured staff from EU member states that they ‘are extremely welcome and valued in the health and social care sectors in Wales’.

Mr Gething added that ‘the NHS will collectively take a zero tolerance approach to any form of intolerance or discrimination that arises in any part of the organisation in the aftermath of this decision’.

Freedom of movement

In a statement after the referendum, England's chief nursing officer Jane Cummings told nurses, midwives and healthcare assistants that it is not yet known how the result will affect freedom of movement of workers from member states, or how professional qualifications will be recognised in future.

At the same time, Welsh NHS Confederation director Vanessa Young said the uncertainty following the referendum will ‘bring both opportunities and challenges’.

Recruitment

'While it is impossible to predict the full impact at this stage, we know that this decision could affect recruitment and economic stability,’ she said.

The first minister for Wales has written to the home secretary in support of the right for EU citizens living in the UK to retain the right to stay after the withdrawal from the EU.