§ Mr. CoxTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how many(a) nurses and (b) doctors were recruited from overseas to work in the NHS during the last 12 months. [153759]
§ Mr. DenhamThe figures requested are not collected centrally but may be held by individual national health service employers. The United Kingdom Central Council
102Wand the General Medical Council (GMC) do, however, collect figures on the number of international nurses and doctors registered in this country.
Between April 1999 and March 2000, 7,383 nurses, midwives and health visitors were admitted to the United Kingdom Central Council for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting register from abroad, of whom 5,967 were from outside the European Economic Area (EEA).
In 2000, the GMC issued full registration to 1,185 doctors from within the EEA. Full registration was issued to 1,896 doctors from outside the EEA and 1,967 doctors from outside the EEA were issued limited registration. The GMC report that on average, 5,700 doctors who qualified abroad, are undertaking postgraduate training under limited registration.