Hays Reports Acute Shortages Across UK Nursing Sector
Released
on: October 27, 2009, 4:39 am
Author: Hays
Industry: Human
Resources
Hays,
the world's leading recruitment experts in qualified, professional
and skilled people, has reported that the acute shortages felt
across the nursing sector in the UK has led to demand for professional
staff from overseas.
The
most affected areas for nursing
jobs are in critical care (ITU), A&E, theatre, intensive
care (ICU) and accident and emergency medicine nurses, with skill
shortages also apparent for obstetrician and gynaecologist, orthopaedic,
anaesthetic and recovery nurses.
"The
available talent from abroad throws an important lifeline to the
UK given the pressing need for skilled nurses. Around 10% of nurses
working in the UK have trained abroad and the shortage of skills
can only be adequately filled by targeted international recruitment,"
commented Simon Hudson, Director of Hays Global Resourcing at
Hays Healthcare.
A
combination of more effective utilisation and retention of skilled
nurses, increased emphasis on training new nurses and, in the
short term, increased international recruitment, would seem to
provide the optimal solution to the nursing
jobs crisis.
"While
most of our temporary and permanent recruitment is carried out
locally, the demand for certain skills has outstripped supply.
It is therefore our responsibility to help clients attract these
key professionals from outside their local market," stressed
Hudson.
An
international presence in 28 countries enables Hays to reach and
target this extended pool of nursing professionals. "Our
office network means we can source candidates from abroad and
assist UK employers in finding correctly qualified nursing staff
to meet their requirements," added Hudson.
Hays
Healthcare has now added a comprehensive project methodology programme,
LOCATE, to its portfolio to provide further support to employers
via its global network.
"This
gives employers extra confidence to partner with us to fill the
gaps in their workforce," explained Hudson. "The new
methodology, within an international
recruitment context, helps our clients through the process
- it is innovative and comprehensive, detailing exactly how each
project will be handled to ensure that it is a success every time."
The
problems facing the nursing sector in the UK are further compounded
by an ageing domestic workforce - around 60% of the worker population
is due to retire over the next decade. However, the shortage of
nurses is not just limited to the UK with demand outstripping
supply across the world, which in turn fuels a cyclical international
movement of labour in the nursing profession. Many UK nurses are
leaving to go and work abroad, to destinations such as Canada,
Australia, the Middle East and the United States. Hudson explained:
"Clearly, lifestyle and financial reasons rather than an
inability to find a job in the UK are two of the key motivators."
Hays
has also launched the Hays Healthclub, which supports existing
and new workers. It provides new Hays members and those who refer
others for roles, which are suffering from skill shortages with
a £250 Healthclub bonus.
"The
Healthclub not only allows us to say a huge thank you to those
who have been loyal but also encourages workers to recommend others
to find work through Hays. This support is critical in light of
the ongoing shortages in many areas of healthcare, especially
nursing," concluded Hudson.
-ends-
About
Hays Healthcare:
Hays Healthcare is part of Hays plc (the “Group”),
the leading global specialist recruitment group. It is market
leader in the UK and Australia, and one of the market leaders
in Continental Europe. The Group employs 6,933 staff operating
from 345 offices in 28 countries across 17 specialisms. For the
year ended 30 June 2009:
– the Group had revenues of £2.4 billion, net fees
of £670.8 million and operating profit of £158.0 million;
– the Group placed around 50,000 candidates into permanent
jobs and around 270,000 people into temporary assignments; and
– the temporary placement business represented 56% of net
fees and the permanent placement business represented 44% of net
fees.
For
further press information please contact:
Alexandra Tucker
Hays Plc.
2nd Floor, Stockley House
130 Wilton Road
London
SW1V 1LQ
020 7630 4282
www.hays.com/healthcare