International recruitment continues to be an important part of the ways in which the NHS is increasing the numbers of nurses and midwives in our workforce. For a number of consecutive years, we have seen significant growth in the numbers of people from outside the European Economic Area (EEA) joining the permanent nursing register.

The health and wellbeing and professional support of our entire workforce is a top priority and we work closely with groups and associations representing our international nurses and midwives – known as “diaspora groups” – to ensure that these staff have the pastoral and professional support they need.

This collaboration promotes services to NHS staff and works to advance the pastoral and professional support available to them, as well as the health and wellbeing of international nurses in the NHS. These associations also play a vital role in supporting the International Recruitment programme by providing data and insight that allows us to better understand the needs of our international nurses and midwives, and supports communities to be heard.

Diaspora group organisations

If you are an international nurse or midwife and would like to find out more about the support available, please find a community that’s relevant to you below.

Case studies

Fatima Ghaouch is a midwife at Northampton General hospital, who was able to get support and advice through the Association of South Asian Midwives (ASAM) when she joined the NHS:

“ASAM played an important role in supporting my mental wellbeing, they helped me understand all the doors available for support, they encouraged me to look into professional development opportunities and they continue to support me to build the confidence and courage to pursue these”.

Other resources

• International recruitment marketing materials
• Nuffield Trust: Overseas nurse recruitment and the NHS
• NHS Employers International Recruitment toolkit
• Code of Practice for International Recruitment
• International recruitment FutureNHS collaboration platform
• NHS Long Term Plan – International recruitment
• NHS Employers information for international nurses during COVID-19