Overseas workers decline threatens UK hospitals and care homes urgently

Published: 27 February 2026. The English Chronicle Desk. The English Chronicle Online.

Hospitals and care homes across the UK face a looming crisis as overseas worker numbers collapse. Experts warn that falling immigration of nurses and care staff risks an unprecedented strain on the healthcare system. Home Office data reveal that the number of overseas nurses granted entry to the UK fell by a staggering 93% between 2022 and 2025. Just 1,777 overseas nurses arrived last year, compared with 26,100 in 2022, demonstrating a dramatic reduction in the sector’s international recruitment. Visas for caring personal service occupations, which cover care workers, ambulance staff, and nursing auxiliaries, fell even more sharply, illustrating systemic pressure on frontline support roles.

From 107,847 overseas workers granted entry in 2023, the numbers plunged to only 3,178 by 2025, representing a 97% fall. Alarmingly, just 23 care workers arrived from overseas in the final three months of last year. This trend, highlighted in a study by the charity Work Rights Centre, reflects the impact of increasingly restrictive migration policies, which some economists warn could exacerbate skill shortages, rising inflation, and challenges in meeting the needs of an ageing population. The decline also signals long-term pressures on essential services reliant on migrant professionals.

Overall, skilled worker visa issuance has now dropped for nine consecutive quarters, reaching its lowest point since 2021. The reductions span multiple sectors, including science, education, healthcare, and skilled trades, reflecting the UK government’s systematic tightening of visa conditions. In May 2025, Keir Starmer explicitly stated that every aspect of immigration would be controlled more strictly, promising tougher enforcement measures and lower overall migration numbers. Critics argue this approach has created unintended consequences for industries that depend on overseas recruitment to fill critical workforce gaps.

Royal College of Nursing chief officer Lynn Woolsey described the situation as “the worst of all worlds” for healthcare. She emphasised that domestic recruitment alone is insufficient to cover vacancies left by the collapse in overseas nursing staff. Woolsey warned that without urgent intervention, the UK risks significant strain on hospitals and care facilities, where remaining nurses face excessive workloads and double shifts to meet patient needs. She urged ministers to act promptly, stressing that pushing away overseas professionals while failing to invest in the domestic workforce would jeopardise healthcare delivery.

Dora-Olivia Vicol, chief executive of the Work Rights Centre, highlighted the broader implications for hospitals, research institutions, and schools across the UK. She noted that the sharp decline in migrant professionals raises questions about the true costs of a narrow focus on reducing migration. Vicol warned that the country faces an impending “car crash” in public services, with hospitals unlikely to function effectively amidst 25,000 unfilled nursing positions. Migrant workers who can still enter face higher costs, longer settlement routes, and risks of labour exploitation due to visa restrictions tying them to specific employers.

Visas for science, research, engineering, and technology professionals dropped from 24,843 in 2022 to 9,072 in 2025, reflecting a severe contraction in skilled talent flows. Similarly, teaching and education professional visas declined 71% over two years, while skilled tradespeople visas fell 73%, signalling widespread challenges for workforce sustainability. These trends underscore concerns about the government’s ability to meet infrastructure, healthcare, and education demands without sufficient migrant talent. Vicol warned that these declines threaten fiscal stability, economic growth, and the sustainability of public services.

The National Care Association, representing around 5,000 social care providers, echoed these concerns. Executive chair Nadra Ahmed emphasised that international recruitment remains essential, as domestic applicants fail to meet demand. She highlighted the risk to care recipients if overseas professionals are unavailable, noting that migrant staff have historically played a crucial role in maintaining sector stability. The departure of skilled workers to other European countries such as Germany and Ireland, attracted by better conditions, has further amplified pressures on the UK workforce.

Simon Bottery, senior fellow for social care policy at the King’s Fund, confirmed that reduced overseas recruitment has become a structural reality for social care. He argued that the sector must increasingly focus on cultivating a homegrown workforce to maintain service provision. Ahmed also observed care home closures occurring due to staffing shortages, as providers struggle to replace international recruits who have lost sponsorship rights. The situation presents immediate operational challenges and long-term sustainability concerns for social care across the UK.

The Home Office defended its position, stating that overseas recruitment for care workers ended due to unacceptable levels of abuse and exploitation. Officials argued that tightening skilled worker visa thresholds to degree-level ensures fairer labour practices and greater opportunities for British workers. A spokesperson asserted that net migration has fallen nearly 70% under the current administration, framing the reductions in visa issuance as evidence of effective border and migration control. The department also emphasised its commitment to attracting high-skilled labour, even as lower-skilled roles face stricter limitations.

The consequences of these policies are already evident. Healthcare facilities report escalating pressure as remaining staff juggle larger patient loads. Care homes face rising operational stress, while educational and research institutions struggle to recruit talent necessary for critical programmes. Economists warn that the cumulative impact of shrinking overseas recruitment could slow economic growth, strain public finances, and increase reliance on temporary staffing solutions. Without corrective measures, the UK risks falling behind in essential service delivery and workforce stability compared with other nations.

Despite these challenges, government representatives assert that prioritising domestic workers benefits the long-term economy. They argue that controlling migration fosters higher wages, reduced unemployment among locals, and opportunities to invest in homegrown talent pipelines. However, critics stress that such policies cannot fully replace the experience, skills, and labour contribution of overseas professionals. The healthcare and social care sectors, in particular, have historically relied on migrant staff to supplement domestic shortages and maintain operational continuity.

Analysts suggest that reversing the decline in international recruitment will require significant policy adjustments. Measures could include relaxing visa restrictions, expanding sponsorship schemes, and providing pathways to settlement for critical workers. Simultaneously, investment in training and retaining domestic staff must continue to offset persistent shortages. Without such interventions, the UK faces ongoing operational risks across multiple public services, with hospitals, care homes, and educational institutions operating under increasingly precarious conditions.

The collapse in overseas workforce inflows represents a fundamental challenge for the UK’s public services. Experts insist that balancing migration control with service sustainability is vital to prevent systemic failure. Hospitals, care homes, and schools must adapt to a landscape of fewer migrant staff, while policymakers confront difficult trade-offs between border enforcement and societal needs. The situation highlights the delicate interconnection between immigration policy, workforce planning, and the delivery of essential services for a growing and ageing population.

In conclusion, the decline in overseas workers arriving in the UK signals a serious strain on healthcare, social care, and education sectors. Experts describe the situation as a looming “car crash,” with unfilled nursing positions, fewer care workers, and shrinking skilled labour affecting service delivery nationwide. Without urgent policy intervention and increased domestic workforce development, the UK risks enduring long-term operational and economic consequences. Balancing immigration policy with workforce sustainability remains crucial to maintain public services and protect the well-being of vulnerable populations.

Check our latest news