A new cohort of displaced healthcare workers has arrived in the UK to work in 16 different Trusts of the National Health Service (NHS) located across England.

This is the largest cohort to have been supported to relocate to the UK, since the healthcare project began in 2021, and the first one to be part of the Displaced Talent for Europe (DT4E) pilot project, funded by the European Union, and led by the International Organization for Migration (IOM). Through DT4E, support has been given to both candidates and employers throughout the mobility and settlement process. 

For NHS England Trusts, IOM provided pre-departure training sessions which included a broad overview of the migrant journey and contextualization of the socioeconomic conditions in the countries where candidates come from, as well as a briefing on best cultural practices in the workplace for welcoming displaced talent. 

Additionally, candidates had the chance to attend post-departure cultural orientation sessions provided by IOM once they arrived in the UK, which allowed them to learn more about the UK political, legal and social systems, and gain insights into the practicalities of moving to their new cities including housing, education and transport. 

The newly arrived 61 nurses arrived from Lebanon, Egypt, and the UAE and will be based in different cities across the UK, including London, Bristol, Leicester and Portsmouth.

Welcoming by NHSP

To welcome the new nurses, the NHS England and NHS Professionals (NHSP) hosted a webinar where nurses from previous cohorts shared their experiences of relocation to the UK. 

‘‘I didn’t think twice, I didn’t hesitate. This is the place I’m meant to be. I see the chance to become a nurse specialist with the support of the NHS,’’ said Rawan, NHS nurse based in Cambridge and TBB Alumni. 

The webinar also had presentations including those from Duncan Burton (Deputy Chief Nursing Officer NHS England) and Dame Ruth May (Chief Nursing Officer NHS England), who said:

‘‘[It is a] sheer delight to be here to welcome you and see so many of our internationally educated nurses as part of our NHS. Your talent, your expertise and skills are very welcome to the NHS in England.’’

Speakers also included Hadrien Kieffer, Director of NHSP, Nicola McQueen, CEO NHS Professionals, Rhian Wells, Head of International Workforce Policy, Dept Health & Social Care (DHSC), and Stephanie Cousins, CEO at TBB. 

The Healthcare Programme in the UK

Since the launch of the healthcare pathway in 2021, 249 primary candidates have relocated to the UK to work in both the NHS and private healthcare organizations. A total of 412 individuals (including their direct dependents) have been supported through this pathway. 

The Displaced Talent for Europe Pilot Project

Displaced Talent for Europe (DT4E) is a three-year pilot project (December 2021–December 2024) funded by the European Union (EU) and led by the International Organization for Migration that aims to facilitate and strengthen labor mobility schemes to match displaced talent in Jordan and Lebanon with employers in need of their skills in Belgium, Ireland, Portugal and the UK. 

'Ultimately, IOM and TBB, together with partners Fedasil, Alto Comissariado para as Migracoes and Fragomen, are laying the foundations for an innovative and legal labor mobility pathway that will enable people in need of protection and their families to sustainably integrate into labor markets, including the UK's healthcare sector.