‘Ethical dilemma’ around international recruitment, says CNO

England’s most senior nurse has spoken out about the importance of ethical international nursing recruitment and for anti-racism in the health service.

Ruth May, chief nursing officer (CNO) for England, described the balance of bringing eager international nurses into the NHS while not starving their home countries of talented healthcare staff, as an “ethical dilemma”.

She referred to the tens of thousands of overseas nurses currently working in England, and said that while they were an asset to the NHS, the health service needed to support them more, and also not rely too heavily on international recruitment.