UK Health Council relaxes requirement for internat...

UK Health Council relaxes requirement for international nurses

Audrey Galawu

Nurses willing to work in the UK have had IELTS scores reviewed

The United Kingdom Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) has approved two key changes to its English Language requirements which simplifies procedures for nurses who want to work in that country.

It is mandatory for health personnel wishing to work in the UK to sit for examinations under the International English Language Testing System (IELTS).

In a memo, the NMC stated that the move was meant to empower internationally-educated nurses to “fulfil their dream” of working as nurses in the UK.

Zimbabwe is one of the main sources of health personnel opting to migrate to the UK and other countries due to the lure of better perks. According to the Health Services Board, in 2021 alone over 2 200 health workers relocated overseas and to other countries in the region that include Namibia.

The NMC will now standardise the minimum scores it accepts when individuals need to combine two English language test scores. This means adjusting the scores accepted individually across the four domains of the test, which include reading, writing, speaking and listening.

Zimbabwe Nurses Association (ZINA) President Erick Dongo said the demand for health workers overseas is crippling the health sector as there are few mentors left to educate junior nurses.

The migration of health workers to the UK has not only impacted on Zimbabwe alone, but several countries including Kenya and South Africa.

The Democratic Nurse Organisation of South Africa (Denosa) has since called on the South African government to improve working conditions in the country to discourage health workers from leaving.

This is after 2 576 nurses left for the UK in 2021 while the Kenyan government, which sent its first batch of 894 nurses in October 2021, has pledged to send 20 000 more nurses to the UK to address a shortage brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Currently, when combining test scores, an applicant needs to achieve an overall combined score of 7 or B. However, if they score below a 6.5 or C+ in any of the individual domains they are unable to combine their score with another test.

The NMC will now accept combined test results with an overall combined score of 7 or B, providing that no part of the test is scored more than half a point or half a grade below the minimum required.

For example, if an applicant scored a 6 or C in writing, where the minimum score is 6.5 or C+, they would still be able to combine their test scores.