Drop in overseas workers is ‘car crash’ for UK hospitals and care homes, say experts

The Guardian - World NewsEN 4 min read 100% complete by Chris Osuh Community affairs correspondentFebruary 26, 2026 at 08:54 PM
Drop in overseas workers is ‘car crash’ for UK hospitals and care homes, say experts

AI Summary

long article 4 min

A new study reveals a significant drop in overseas workers entering the UK, particularly in nursing and care sectors, leading experts to warn of a crisis in hospitals and care homes. The number of overseas nurses granted entry to the UK fell by 93% from 2022 to 2025, while visas for care workers and related occupations declined by 97% between 2023 and 2025. The Work Rights Centre attributes this decline to tightened visa conditions and a shift in UK migration policy. Overall skilled worker visas have fallen for nine consecutive quarters to the lowest levels since 2021. The Royal College of Nursing warns that domestic recruitment will not compensate for the loss of overseas staff, potentially impacting healthcare services.

Keywords

overseas workers 90% uk hospitals 80% care homes 80% nurse shortage 70% visa decline 70% skilled worker visas 60% skill shortages 50% migration 50% ageing population 40%

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Very Negative
Score: -0.80

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Source
The Guardian - World News
Classification Confidence
90%
Geographic Perspective
United Kingdom

This article was automatically classified using rule-based analysis.

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