Impact of Brexit on NHS: An Increase of 1,485 Deaths Annually Due to Loss of EU Nurses

A recent study from the University of Surrey highlights the significant impact of Brexit on the UK's National Health Service (NHS), revealing that the departure of EU nurses following the 2016 referendum has resulted in approximately 1,485 additional deaths per year within three years post-referendum. The research analyzed administrative data from 131 English NHS hospitals, focusing on the pre-referendum proportion of EU nurses—ranging from 0.5% to 22%, with an average of about 5.84%—and how their departure affected hospital care quality.

The findings demonstrate a marked decline in the influx of EU nurses after Brexit, coupled with a rise in the employment of non-EU overseas nurses, who often possessed less experience and received lower pay. The study concludes that this shift in workforce composition was the primary driver behind the increased mortality and healthcare readmissions, as other factors such as patient demographics and hospital productivity were accounted for.

Professor Giuseppe Moscelli, the lead researcher, emphasized that the loss of skilled nurses has tangible, life-threatening consequences. He pointed out the crucial role migrant nurses play in delivering high-quality emergency care and stressed the need for policies that bolster the training and retention of domestically trained healthcare professionals. The study underscores the NHS’s reliance on foreign-trained nurses and advocates balancing this dependency through strategic workforce development to ensure future care standards.

This research emphasizes the broader implications of immigration policies on healthcare outcomes and the importance of maintaining a stable, well-qualified nursing workforce. For more details, visit here.