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UK nurses could face difficulty working in Ireland after NMC changes

Regulator’s amendments to education standards will affect the future of UK-trained nurses practising in EU countries, says council member
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Regulator’s amendments to education standards will affect the future of UK-trained nurses practising in EU countries, says council member

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Changes to education standards could make it harder for UK nurses to work in Ireland, a Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) member has warned.

The regulator voted to approve changes to its education standards at today’s full council meeting, but council member Sir Hugh Bayley cautioned that departure from standards set by the European Union (EU) could cause problems for UK nurses wishing to work in the EU, in particular those working on the Irish border.

The Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI) had told the NMC it might need extra assurances that UK nurses were qualified if the new education standards were implemented.

‘Overall it’s bad for learning and professional development’

The changes were passed unanimously by the council, but Sir Hugh, a former Labour MP for York, said he voted in favour with ‘a lack of enthusiasm’. He asked the council whether thought had been given to the impact on individual registrants wanting to work in the 28 EU countries.

‘Post-Brexit, the number of nurses from the EU has fallen dramatically,’ said Sir Hugh. ‘Although this is only a minor departure from the directive, this will affect the future of UK-trained nurses practising in EU countries. Overall it’s bad for learning and professional development.’

Two key deviations from EU standards

The amendments will see two key departures from EU educational standards: students will be allowed 600 of their 2,300 practice learning hours to be met through simulated learning; and applicants for nursing degree courses will no longer be required to show they have 12 years of prior education.

Previously education standards were stipulated by EU directives, but since the UK left the EU, the nursing regulator is no longer bound to follow EU rules on nursing and midwifery education.

Question over future ease of working in Ireland

NMC council papers noted this could make it harder to work outside the UK, highlighting the effect in Ireland.

The papers said: ‘The proposals may affect the way in which UK registrants who graduate under the revised standards can register with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland in order to practise in the Republic of Ireland.

‘At present, NMBI continues to recognise qualifications from the UK automatically; in future, they may require applicants from the UK to provide additional assurance.’

NMC says changes aims to ‘do what is best for learning in the UK’

Responding to Sir Hugh’s concerns, NMC executive director of strategy and insight Matthew McClelland said diverting from the EU standards puts the UK in a ‘luxurious position to set the direction’ and ‘do what is best for learning in the UK.’

The NMC is continuing to consult more widely on the possibility of reducing the required number of practice hours needed to qualify as a nurse.


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