A confidential advice line has been set up to help overseas nurses find work in the UK amid concerns that some are being exploited.

The Department of Health has already hit out at the way some commercial recruitment agencies have charged overseas nurses exorbitant signing on fees.

There have also been some problems with work contracts, and with nurses being offered menial posts.

Overseas nurses should not to be sold short or deceived by either recruitment agencies or unscrupulous employers

John Hutton

Now the department has joined forces with the health service workers union Unison to set up a phone line staffed by trained advisers.

They will provide information on matching up skills with available jobs, and how to avoid being exploited by unscrupulous agencies.

Ministers are keen to encourage overseas nurses to come to the UK to help tackle the staffing shortages in the NHS.

Health Minister John Hutton said: "Overseas nurses are an integral part of the NHS workforce.

"Having made the decision to work in England, they should not to be sold short or deceived by either recruitment agencies or unscrupulous employers.

"It is our responsibility to ensure that this does not happen."

Talent must not be wasted

Chief Nursing Officer Sarah Mullally, deplored the exploitation of nurses arriving in the UK as "despicable".

"We are determined to ensure that the talents of these people are not wasted on low grade employment and that they have the opportunities to undertake the supervised practice programmes which ensures their professional skills are appropriately used to the fullest extent."

The Department of Health has established a group to identify the problems faced by overseas nurses.

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

She said: "Too many internationally recruited nurses face exploitation and poor working conditions. The helpline and the project group are positive steps towards providing continued support to international nurses.

"We would like to see the Department of Health taking a lead role in ensuring relevant government departments such as Department of Trade and Industry, Work Permits UK and Trading Standards Offices act to close the loopholes that allow rogue recruitment agencies and employers to continue to exploit international nurses."

The national helpline number is 08458 50588.