Proposed ILR changes threaten migrant nurses and UK care service plans

The Royal College of Nursing has warned that the Home Secretary's immigration overhaul would raise the settlement threshold for migrant care workers from five to 15 years, with the change applied retroactively. The RCN describes the move as a betrayal of the overseas nurses who sustain the health and social care system and says it would push many to leave the UK. With domestic nursing growth stalled, the policy threatens the viability of the National Care Service promised by the Prime Minister.

Comparative data show the UK already has some of the strictest settlement rules and highest fees, far behind countries such as Canada, Australia, New Zealand and the US. The college estimates up to 46,000 nursing staff could consider leaving. The Home Office maintains that the reforms aim to balance migration responsibilities with public funding pressures.