This code of practice sends out a clear signal that the NHS will not work with commercial recruitment agencies that do not work to high standards of ethics

John Hutton MP

Health service managers are increasingly turning to foreign recruitment to solve serious staffing shortages in the NHS.

Collaboration

The Code of Practice for International Recruitment was developed with NHS employers, professional bodies, trade unions and commercial recruitment agencies.

It sets out for the first time guidelines for NHS employers contracting with commercial recruitment agencies.

And says that the NHS must not work with agencies that fail to meet the standards set out in the code.

Agencies will be blacklisted for:

• charging fees to candidates to be considered for registration in the UK
• failing to provide occupational health assessment
• not offering the same support and access to further education and training as other UK-trained employees

Nurse leader Beverly Malone welcomed the guidance

However, Mr Hutton stressed that international recruitment was beneficial to the NHS and provided an excellent learning opportunity for overseas health professionals which would in turn, enhance treatment and care in their countries of origin.

Beverly Malone, general secretary of the Royal College of Nursing, welcomed the announcement.

She said: "The Code of Practice will help to ensure that internationally recruited nurses are treated fairly and can make a valuable contribution to healthcare in the UK - recognising that ethical recruitment is not just about where, but how healthcare professionals are recruited.

"We hope that employers outside the NHS will also follow the principles outlined in this document."

The Department of Health issued guidance on the recruitment of international nurses in November 1999 which instructed the NHS not to recruit from developing countries such as South Africa and those in the Caribbean.

However, the Liberal Democrats revealed earlier this year that private nursing agencies were bypassing NHS guidelines and recruiting nurses from developing countries.

Name and shame

The government has finally woken up to the problem that has been highlighted over many months

Paul Burstow MP

Liberal Democrat health spokesman Paul Burstow said: "The government has finally woken up to the problem that has been highlighted over many months by nursing organisations, international governments and the Liberal Democrats.

"It is typical of this government that by using 'blacklists' for those who ignore Department of Health guidelines, they will once again use the process of naming and shaming, rather than applauding and rewarding.

"The government has already admitted that the Department of Health is not responsible for the actions of private recruitment agencies, so it is hard to see what improvements the new code of practice will make."

Public sector union Unison welcomed the move but called for the code to be extended to private sector nursing and residential homes.

The number of overseas nurses who want to work in the UK grew by almost 72% over the last year.

Almost half the applications came from the Philippines, which the government has said has a surplus of nurses.