CONCERNS have been raised over the potential effects of leaving the EU on nursing levels in Dorset.

The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) has said that recruitment problems faced by many NHS employers could get worse with thousands of nurses currently working here potentially affected by changes to EU immigration rules after Brexit.

New research from the RCN shows that of the 16,872 nurses in the Health Education Wessex region, 1,411 come from the EU.

Private health providers are also said to rely on EU staff to deliver services and some staff in the research chose not provide information on their nationality meaning there are probably more working in the region.

The RCN is calling for the value of European nursing staff to be recognised and for the government to protect their futures.

Martyn Webster, Healthwatch Dorset manager, also expressed his concerns about the county losing any valued members of staff.

He said: “Our NHS in Dorset is already facing major problems in recruiting enough staff. And proposals recently unveiled by Dorset Clinical Commissioning Group for the re-organisation of hospitals and putting more services in the community are going to create even more challenges, because all those services will need to be adequately staffed.

“So anything that may make the staffing situation worse than is already is unwelcome. NHS staff across Dorset, whatever their nationality, do a fantastic job caring for their patients. It would be terrible to lose any of the wonderful staff we already have in our NHS or put off suitably qualified doctors or nurses from Europe from applying for jobs here.”

A spokesman for Dorset County Hospital said that less than five per cent of its workforce is from the EU and it hasn’t recruited from there for at least a year.

Patricia Marquis, RCN south east regional director, which Dorset falls under, said: “So many employers in the south east are already struggling to recruit and so rely on recruiting from the EU and the rest of the world. In the uncertain times we are in, we need to ensure that EU nurses feel valued and welcome to stay. The Government needs to give some concrete assurances to the EU nurses and other health workers who are already here caring for patients.

“A sustained lack of investment in training new nurses and years of pay restraint mean many experience nurses can’t afford to stay in the profession. Plans to change student funding and question marks over our future relationship with the EU place even greater pressure on the NHS.

“What’s needed is a sensible strategy for the future that recognises the critical contribution of overseas nurses as well as the pressing need to educate, recruit and retain a homegrown nursing workforce.”

“We will do everything we can to support our European members through this time and would urge any members with concerns to contact us directly.”