Immigration cap 'could have caused NHS nursing crisis'

A cap on immigration into the UK could be responsible for the nursing crisis in the NHS, according to a parliamentary report.

In an effort to reduce non-EU migration to below 100,000 a year, the government put an annual cap of 20,700 skilled workers from outside Europe.

But the report by the Home Affairs Select Committee found the limit, introduced in 2011, may have discouraged skilled workers from coming to the UK.

The committee also heard that "a large number" of nurses who did have UK job offers were being rejected due to limits on visas issued each month.

Such is shortage of nurses, Home Secretary Theresa May was forced to put them on a shortage occupation list in October following complaints from NHS trusts about safe staffing levels in hospitals.

Home Affairs Committee Chair Keith Vaz said the immigration cap system was a whole was "unfit for purpose".

He added: "In June, nurses were being prevented from working in the UK, which necessitated the Government taking emergency measures to allow recruitment to continue.

"Whilst this was a very welcome move, it is clear to see that the system could have caused a crisis in the NHS this winter.

"The Government's immigration cap does not fit, it may even be counter-productive. It is having no effect on bringing down net migration."