The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) has estimated that new tough immigration rules will lead to shortage of nurses in Britain; it may lead to chaos in hospitals and increase the expenditure to millions.

According to estimations, about 3,365 nurses who are presently working in Britain could be affected by a policy, according to which, migrants from outside Europe are obliged to earn £35,000 or more in order to stay on after six years working here. Generally, nurses don’t receive such salaries, especially not within six years of starting work in the NHS.

According to the nurses’ union, the loss of these skilled clinicians will create problems, when it comes to patient safety. As per reports, the new rules will take effect from 2017.

According to Dr Peter Carter, the chief executive and general secretary of the RCN, the immigration rules for healthcare workers will lead to chaos for the NHS in addition to other care services and the UK is making it harder to employ staff from out of the country that too when demand is increasing.

As per Carter, “The NHS has spent millions hiring nurses from overseas in order to provide safe staffing levels. These rules will mean that money has just been thrown down the drain. The UK will be sending away nurses who have contributed to the health service for six years”.

Carter added that it seems totally illogical to lose their skills and knowledge and after that starting the cycle again and recruiting to replace them.