Swansea Bay University Health Board say that following a huge international recruitment drive to fill the void of band 5 nurses – an issue felt across the UK – 456 nurses have moved from abroad to start a new life and transfer their health care expertise to South West Wales.
Of those recruited in the past four years, 96 per cent of the nurses remain working for the health board.
It leaves the health board in the fortunate position of having a very low level of vacancies for nursing and healthcare support workers.
Natalie Mills, retention lead, said: “At Swansea Bay University Health Board we are incredibly proud to have retained 96.05% of our internationally educated nurses – a testament to the exceptional collaboration between our nurse education team and service groups.
“These nurses are a vital part of our workforce, bringing invaluable skills, compassion and perspectives to our care.
“This achievement reflects our commitment to creating a workplace where people feel supported, valued, and inspired to stay.
“We are proud to be seen as an exemplar across NHS Wales for building an inclusive and welcoming environment where nurses from around the world choose to build their future.”
The health board say that to better understand the community it serves, their analysis found out 1 in 20 people are from an ethnic minority.
The high retention rate of internationally educated nurses indicates that they are happy living and working in Swansea Bay.
(Image: Swansea Bay University Health Board)
One of the overseas staff to have been recruited since April 2021 is Arianne Labayo.
Arianne is the Health Care Support Worker Development Lead, having arrived from the Philippines in 2020.
She followed in the footsteps of her sister Kristine, who joined Swansea Bay in 2017.
Arianne’s first role in the health board was a band 5 staff nurse in a general medicine ward, before being promoted to her current role two years later, where she is responsible for overseeing the implementation and management of the NHS Wales HCSW Career Framework across the health board. Her responsibilities include coordinating the clinical induction programme for HCSWs within nursing and allied health professions, ensuring its ongoing development and quality assurance.
She said: “Moving to a different country and adapting to a different culture is always daunting. You never know what to expect, so it was a mixture of nerves and excitement when I was offered the job by Swansea Bay University Health Board.
“I am enjoying it, but it’s not just the job itself – the team I’m working in is fostering a very supportive and constructive environment.
“I’ve never thought of leaving – the support I’ve received and chance to develop means I am very happy.
“Outside of work, the beaches remind me of home. In addition to the geographical environment, experiencing a new culture and meeting new people has broadened my perspective on the world.
“Engaging with different places and individuals offers continuous opportunities for learning and personal growth, which helps me in my professional growth too.”
The health board says that nurses who arrive from abroad go through compliance checks and obtain a visa before undertaking a four-week Objective Structured Clinical Examination training programme in its Nurse Education Training Suite based at its Baglan HQ.
Following that, they sit an exam to attain their Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) registration before starting work on wards across our hospitals.
Lynne Jones, Head of Nursing Education and Recruitment, was among the health board representatives during a recruitment event held in India in 2023, which attracted over 100 nurses to Swansea Bay.
Lynne said: “Our recruitment drive over the past four years has proved a huge success in attracting nurses who have added a wealth of experience, skills, culture and diversity to our workforce.
“All across the UK there has been a huge issue filling band 5 positions, but our work internationally has plugged that gap.
“We have recruited ethically in countries who have a surplus of nurses, and it has significantly benefited the health board in staffing levels, the nurses in terms of their development, and, most importantly, our patients.
“Our retention rate of 96 per cent proves that not only is Swansea Bay an attractive place to work and develop, it is a place to stay and spend your life.”
