Page 64 - Human Rights

Faculty of Nursing
Adult care Nursing Department

Projects include language courses, clinical skills courses, job clubs to give interviewing practice and

work shadowing and attachment schemes.

The Leeds Initiative for Overseas Nurses in the UK, part of Leeds Hospitals National Health Service
(NHS) Trust, has developed a programmed to train refugee nurses.

The free 12-week programmed is offered to refugees trained in health care or nursing in their

country of origin, and aims to improve English language skills, increase understanding of nursing

and other health care roles in the NHS and give participants the confidence to progress to higher
education.

The education coordinator and founder of the project have commented that refugees are an

untapped resource for the NHS.

2.9.4 Migration of nursing and midwifery personnel

International migration is a complex phenomenon and frequently results from social, political and

economic factors, especially low salaries, and poor conditions and job prospects.

It can have positive outcomes for the migrating individuals as well as having an impact on health
sector capacity in both countries of emigration and of settlement.

It is a phenomenon with complex interactions with human rights principles. The right of health

professionals to migrate in order to seek better employment conditions and skill development
should be protected.

The reasons cited by nurses and midwives for emigration include: low salary and remuneration;

limited career prospects; feelings of lack of respect or value placed in health workers by

country/system; concern about poor governance and management of the health system; and
concern about poor retirement benefits and prospects.

61 Academic Year 2025/2026